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Greek Police Arrest a Suspect over Online Auctions for Ancient Artifacts

A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)
A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)
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Greek Police Arrest a Suspect over Online Auctions for Ancient Artifacts

A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)
A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)

Authorities in Greece said Friday they have arrested a suspect accused of setting up online auctions to sell ancient Greek artifacts across multiple countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Italy.

The suspect, a woman who described as a foreign national but was not further identified, was detained in Athens by police officers tasked with combating antiquities trafficking, the agency said Friday.

Officers who searched her home seized multiple ancient relics including pottery fragments, figurine pieces, and a statuette of a satyr, a creature from Greek mythology.

The suspect was referred to a public prosecutor to be charged. No further details were immediately available.

Under Greek law, the transfer of ownership of antiquities without legal authorization is punishable by up to two years in prison, with sentences of up to 10 years for more serious related offenses.

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Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Launches Community Campaign to Promote Sustainable Reading

Held under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the initiative falls in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’. WAM
Held under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the initiative falls in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’. WAM
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Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Launches Community Campaign to Promote Sustainable Reading

Held under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the initiative falls in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’. WAM
Held under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the initiative falls in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’. WAM

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC) has launched the first phase of its community campaign to promote sustainable reading, covering the first half of 2025 at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with prominent figures from the UAE’s culture, media, intellectual, and literary sectors in attendance.

Held under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the initiative falls in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’, and serves to reinforce the Center’s commitment to enhancing the presence of the Arabic language and fostering a culture of reading in the community, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The campaign underscores the vital role of reading and its alignment with the principles of the ‘Year of Community’. It aims to unlock the potential and talents of various community groups, particularly the youth, in an effort to empower them to master the Arabic language as a key element of the community’s community identity that embodies its heritage and values. This, in turn, sustainably promotes reading as a practice among various segments of society.

Coinciding with National Reading Month and the upcoming Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), the agenda for the initiative features 1,700 creative events and key initiatives, held in collaboration with 100 government and private-sector entities, bringing together 100 creative talents, and welcoming 50,000 UAE citizens and residents from schools, universities, government institutions, and public spaces across the country.

The agenda covers 14 areas of interest and includes reading clubs, discussion panels, creative writing workshops, intellectual lectures, art seminars, educational entertainment programs, specialized courses, poetry readings, storytelling sessions, radio programs, cultural competitions, initiatives involving artificial intelligence (AI), and new book launches.

“This community campaign for sustainable reading reflects our commitment to enhancing the role of the Arabic language among all community members and embedding a culture of reading into their daily lives, regardless of age or intellectual background,” said, Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said.

“In this initiative, as with all our projects, we draw inspiration from the wise leadership’s vision to cement the Arabic language as a pillar of community identity, and promote reading as a cornerstone for intellectual and knowledge advancement,” he added, according to WAM.

Bin Tamim stressed that “sustainable reading is crucial for achieving lasting intellectual development. It is a key foundation for building capabilities and enhancing the skills of community members, especially the youth, ensuring they stay connected and engaged with contemporary thought, culture, and technology, thus enabling them to participate in the ongoing cultural renaissance, equipped with knowledge and values rooted in the traditions of the UAE.”