US Confiscates Ancient Iraqi Artifacts Illegally Imported By Hobby Lobby

[deminks]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/us-confiscates-ancient-iraqi-artifacts-hobby-lobby

The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed to forfeit thousands of ancient Iraqi cuneiform tablets and clay bullae, or seals, illegally imported in 2010 by arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby.

Hobby Lobby agreed in December 2010 to purchase “over 5,500 Artifacts, comprised of cuneiform tablets and bricks, clay bullae and cylinder seals, for $1.6 million,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced in a release.

The artifacts “originated into the area of modern-day Iraq and were smuggled into the United States through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, contrary to federal law,” the office said.

According to the release, shipments of the artifacts lacked “the required customs entry documentation” and were labeled as tile “samples” and shipped to Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. “and two of Hobby Lobby’s corporate affiliates.”

Hobby Lobby “consented to the forfeiture of the artifacts” and “an additional sum of $3 million,” the office said, and agreed to make internal changes including personnel training, hiring outside counsel and submitting “quarterly reports to the government on any cultural property acquisitions for the next eighteen months.”

(end snip)

'Stuff happens' - Donald Rumsfeld

[OhNo-Really]

1. good grief! The uber religious have a callous disregard for the law.

[Takket]

2. so they wanted the artifacts for a Bible museum

is it normal for a public company to buy up assets for a venture like that?