The Arab Parliament has issued the “Guiding Law for the Preservation and Protection of Arab Antiquities,” as a unified Arab law on which Arab countries rely upon for preparing or updating their national legislation regarding protecting their antiquities.
The President of the Arab Parliament, Dr. Mishaal bin Fahim Al-Salami, indicated that the law aims to achieve legal protection for Arab antiquities at all national, regional, and international levels, and to put in place practical mechanisms to help Arab countries document cultural relics and properties and register them in national lists.
Salami said that the Arab Parliament’s initiative to pass the law comes in light of the risks and challenges to which Arab antiquities are exposed. These risks include terrorism, wars, armed conflicts, looting, robbery, smuggling, damage, and destruction, in addition to the impact of climate change and natural disasters.
It is worth noting that strict rules have been developed to prevent stealing or smuggling of Arab antiquities and the restoration of the looted ones outside Arab countries.