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African Diaspora Archaeology NewsletterVolume 9Issue 1 March 2006 Article 463-1-2006New Law to Protect Morocco Antiquities againstIllicit DealersMorocco TimesFollow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/adanThis News and Announcements is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion inAfrican Diaspora Archaeology Newsletter by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contactscholarworks@library.umass.edu.Recommended CitationTimes, Morocco (2006) "New Law to Protect Morocco Antiquities against Illicit Dealers," African Diaspora Archaeology Newsletter:Vol. 9 : Iss. 1 , Article 46.Available at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/adan/vol9/iss1/46New Law to Protect Morocco Antiquities against Illicit Dealers By Morocco Times  January 21, 2006  Article posted online by the Morocco Times at: http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=49&id=12298 Copyright 2006 Morocco Times. The Minister of Culture, Mohamed Achaari, underlined to members of the House of Representatives that the new law they adopted Tuesday would protect antiquities against illicit dealers. "The illicit dealing in antiquities is a universal phenomenon, favoured by certain parties who buy stolen objects," said the minister. "A text authorizing police intervention to protect the national heritage will be promulgated," continued Achaari. The law project 19/05 modifies and completes law 22/08 concerning the conservation of historic monuments and sites, inscriptions, objects of art and antiquities. But this law only affects movable art objects and antiquities which will be protected against destruction, such as manuscripts. Sanctions vary between fines and imprisonment, according to the nature of the offence. Historic monuments however, remain governed by the old legislation. There is thus a flagrant juridical void in this field. The delay is due, amongst other things, to the lack of studies and coordination between the concerned parties. These should join their efforts to fight against the illicit trade which threatens the nations' cultural goods and identity, and which is increasing in Morocco. In effect, our country lies at the crossroads of civilizations between the West, the East and Africa. The phenomenon has taken on worrying proportions in recent years. Buyers have recourse to illegal means to obtain, documents, manuscripts, objects of art, ethnology and archaeology. Excavations on several archaeological sites have had to be stopped for lack of protection. Many national manuscripts have been sold illegally. "Diplomatic bags and private travel are a means of exporting them," the Minister of Culture did not hesitate to declare during a recent study day on this theme. Morocco is not the only country affected. Even the richest states, equipped with the most sophisticated security systems, suffer from important thefts from public museums and private collections, as well as illegal excavations on protected archaeological sites.  1Times: New Law to Protect Morocco Antiquities against Illicit DealersPublished by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst, 2006

New Law to Protect Morocco Antiquities against Illicit Dealers

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New Law to Protect Morocco Antiquities against Illicit Dealers

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