Amman - Saba:
Dr. Nizar Al-Tarshan, a professor of archaeology at the University of Jordan, addressed the issue of antiquities theft, historical falsification, and the building of British civilization upon the civilizations of others. He affirmed that "these Western thefts are historical and began with the Crusades."
In an interview with "Sputnik" radio, Al-Tarshan stated that "Britain represents the biggest problem," and that "many archaeological sites were destroyed by invading armies, leading to the erasure of history in the Arab region, especially in Iraq and Syria. Valuable artifacts were seized and transferred to the British Museum, which does not contain a single item from British history because they have no roots or civilization." He emphasized that "civilization originated in the East."
The archaeology professor explained that "the falsification of history is a serious issue supported by much evidence. It includes the theft of antiquities, manuscripts, and all sciences related to them, as well as the industries and ideas embedded in these artifacts, which reflected the thoughts of their creators. After being stolen and transported, their knowledge and science were appropriated.
Then, historical facts were distorted through writings, books, and articles intended to rewrite the region's history and undermine Arab cultural achievements through Orientalism, aided by local collaborators who support these narratives and justify the thefts under the pretext of preservation—even though removing artifacts from their original context distorts them."
Al-Tarshan also noted that "some Arab countries are pressing to recover their stolen antiquities but remain powerless in the face of British and Western obstinacy, compounded by the absence of strict international laws compelling their return. Diplomatic efforts have proven ineffective."
It is worth mentioning that Britain ranks first in terms of the number of valuable stolen artifacts from around the world. The British Museum alone—the oldest public national museum in the world—houses 8 million artifacts from across the globe, most of which were collected during the colonial era, when Britain was the largest colonial power in the world.