The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favor of Italy in a case involving the Getty Museum and the return of looted cultural artifacts. The court, a tribunal of the Council of Europe, found that Italy had not violated any civil or political rights in the handling of the artifacts.
The ruling comes after years of contentious negotiations between Italy and the Getty Museum over the return of stolen antiquities. The relationship between the two parties has been strained, with a Getty curator, Marion True, facing trial in Rome in 2005 for allegedly receiving stolen artifacts.
Despite the rocky history, Italy and the Getty have reached agreements in the past for the return of looted works. In 2007, the Getty agreed to return 40 antiquities claimed by Italy, and since then, they have returned numerous artifacts, including terra-cotta figures dating back to 300 B.C.
Thursday’s ruling is not final, and either party has the option to request a review before the Grand Chamber of the European court. The Getty has stated that they are considering this possibility, but D’Ascia, the lawyer for the Italian government, noted that cases passing to the Grand Chamber are rare.
Overall, the ruling is seen as a significant victory for Italy and a reaffirmation of the importance of protecting cultural artifacts from looting. The case highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding the repatriation of stolen works of art.
