Barran Press
The Yemeni ambassador to UNESCO, Mohammed Jumaih, has confirmed his discussions with the Swiss ambassador to UNESCO, Meril Brest, and members of the Swiss Cultural Property Transfer Task Force regarding the repatriation of two Yemeni thrones seized in Switzerland.
In a statement to Barran Press, Ambassador Jamil revealed that the thrones, believed to be from the governorate of Al Jawf, were lost approximately in 2010 and remained missing until their identification and subsequent seizure by Swiss authorities.
Swiss officials assured the ambassador of the thrones' presence in Switzerland, confirming that the case is currently in court due to its criminal nature involving artifact smuggling. They also affirmed Yemen's right to their recovery.
According to Jumaih, the Swiss side committed to the Yemeni government's preferred options: either the immediate return of the thrones to Yemen or their temporary placement in a Swiss museum until security conditions stabilize.
In the second scenario, Swiss officials expressed openness to hosting the thrones in Switzerland for a mutually agreed-upon duration following their release from police custody, pending the restoration of security in Yemen.
Ambassador Jumaih expressed his preference for the thrones to remain in a Swiss museum until the security situation in Yemen improves.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has fueled the illicit trafficking of Yemeni artifacts, facilitated by local smugglers connected to an international mafia network. The internationally recognized Yemeni government has recently initiated efforts with Western countries to combat this illicit trade.