Iran Seeks to Retake Stolen Grave Stone from Britain

News Category:

Islamic Period

An Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO) expert is bound for Britain to start procedures for repatriation of a 900 year old grave stone which was taken illegally three years ago to UK. The grave stone is currently held by the British police.

Head of the CHO legal office Younes Samadi a hunt was launched three years ago to find the stolen relic.

"Interpol announced the relic belonged to Iran and had been taken out illegally after studying documents submitted by Iran," Samadi said. There is as yet no information regarding the person who held the stone.

CHO head Mohammad Beheshti cautioned the holder may mount a case to stop the repatriation of the relic to Iran.

Beheshti said plans have been prepared to re-install the grave stone in its original place in the altar of a mosque in the village of Abrand Abad near Yazd.

The marble grave stone dates back to the 13th century. Stolen in 2002, the 81x 65 cm slab of stone carries verses from Quran.