Report on cultural property protection

Lügenpresse’ (the ‘lying press’) has become a buzzword in Germany. In fact – at least in democratic countries – very few journalists deliberately use lies to push through political agendas. Instead, it is often the case that economic pressures, such as time constraints and the pressure to produce stories that appeal to the public, combined with their own prejudices, prevent journalists from fulfilling their duty to question contemporary narratives.

Collectors in particular have experienced time and again, all over the world, the terrible consequences this has. Whilst discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or skin colour has declined worldwide, discrimination against collectors has increased dramatically. Many intellectuals who systematically discriminate against collectors and the coin trade do not even recognise their behaviour for what it is, but see themselves as heroes of cultural property protection.

The RAND Corporation debunks the myth of terrorist financing

Their arguments are based primarily on claims which, according to the new Cultural Property News Art and Heritage Law Report, are completely unfounded, even though they are repeated ad nauseam. Claims such as that the trade in cultural property finances terrorism have long been debunked; most recently by the well-researched studies of the RAND Corporation, a renowned think tank which primarily advises the US armed forces.

Why do the lies about terrorist financing persist so stubbornly?

The report by Cultural Property News examines why the facts fail to gain traction either amongst the public or in the political arena. In doing so, it exposes the Antiquities Coalition as one of the main driving forces, systematically exploiting its access to charitable organisations, government bodies and foreign countries to perpetuate outdated lies and thus keep the narrative alive.

What is the Antiquities Coalition?

The Antiquities Coalition is a donation-funded American NGO that is able to raise all the more funds the more urgent its cause appears to be. Consequently, the Antiquities Coalition paints a picture of the current situation as if we were still in the 19th century. A good example of this can be found on the NGO’s website: Today, no culture with a past worth protecting is safe from tomb raiders and art smugglers. This illicit trade is a threat not just to our shared history, but to human rights, national economies, and global security. But whilst the problem is immense, so, too, are the possible solutions.

Anyone who looks into the issue of cultural property protection quickly realises that it is not the tomb raiders who are the biggest problem, but rather the lack of funding for the preservation and protection of cultural property. Added to this, in recent times, is overtourism. Cultural property is being ruthlessly exploited by states to capitalise on the financial potential of tourism.

However, as the Antiquities Coalition is state-funded and collaborates with many foreign countries, it is not neutral. It cannot – and presumably does not wish to – tell the truth, for fear of losing its funding. Instead, the art trade presents itself as the perfect scapegoat for state failure.

What is Cultural Property News

Cultural Property News is also not financially independent, but is sponsored by the Committee for Cultural Policy.

This is an American NGO that brings together influential collectors, dealers, lawyers and art lovers. The Committee for Cultural Policy was founded in 2011 out of the need to give collectors a voice – and, of course, it is not neutral either.

What are the consequences of the defamation of collectors?

However, it counters the clichés so frequently repeated in intellectual circles with its own perspective. His report therefore deals not only with holes in the ground, as the Antiquities Coalition repeatedly highlights, but with the impact that the ongoing defamation of collectors and dealers has on civil society. It values the consequences for museums, individuals and for the diaspora communities of cultures that are persecuted in their own countries. Free access to cultural heritage is a core value in this context.

A plea for effective cultural property protection

The study neither denies reality nor the damage caused by looting at archaeological sites. However, it urges that effective cultural property protection must be based not on prejudice, but on verifiable facts. The primary aim should be proportionate legislation that prevents further looting without hindering cultural exchange, research and the general public’s access to humanity’s cultural heritage.

The study can be downloaded free of charge

The report can be downloaded free of charge from the Cultural Property News website. It is 50 pages long and summarises the latest information. Decide for yourself who to believe! It is essential to engage with the subject in an informed manner.