The Tourism Promotion Council has strongly condemned the crimes of smuggling and selling Yemeni antiquities through Zionist and Western auctions.
In a statement obtained by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the Council described these acts as a blatant assault on Yemen’s cultural and historical heritage, and a violation of the Yemeni people’s right to preserve their ancient legacy.
The Council stressed that such practices are part of a systematic campaign targeting Yemen’s cultural identity, occurring within the broader framework of aggression carried out by the Zionist-American alliance.
The Council revealed that it had recently observed the Israeli commercial platform “Bidspirit” offering stolen Yemeni artifacts for sale in the so-called “Tel Aviv” of the Zionist entity.
Among the artifacts listed was a small bronze statue of the Sphinx, dating back to the Hellenistic period (2nd to 4th century BC), which the Council emphasized as an integral part of Yemen’s ancient civilization.
It further noted that conducting such an auction constitutes a clear violation of international and national laws protecting cultural heritage, and runs counter to all moral and ethical standards.
The Tourism Promotion Council held the international community, UNESCO, and all relevant heritage protection entities historically responsible for taking immediate action to stop the illegal auction and ensure the return of the stolen artifacts to Yemen.
The Council reaffirmed that the protection of Yemeni antiquities is a national duty, and stressed that the responsible authorities will not hesitate to pursue all possible means to recover every stolen piece. It pledged full cooperation and support toward these efforts.
An urgent call was also issued to citizens, civil society organizations, media professionals, and activists worldwide to help expose these crimes and raise awareness about the importance of preserving Yemeni heritage as a cornerstone of national identity and a vital part of global human heritage.
Concluding its statement, the Council reiterated its firm commitment to protecting and promoting Yemeni antiquities, asserting that the recovery of smuggled artifacts is not merely a choice, but an undeniable right that must not be delayed or compromised.
