Petition for the Return of the Loot taken from Maqdala (Magdala) Ethiopia, in 1868.

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair,The British House of Commons: Culture, Media and Sport Committee, The British Library,The British Museum,The Royal Library, Windsor Castle,The Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Sponsored By:
    The Ethiopian Community and All Lovers of Justice throughout the World.
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"Recalling that the British Expedition against Emperor Tewodros, in 1868, looted the Ethiopian ruler's capital, Maqdala;

"Realising that this looting had no justification in international law, and was in fact an illegal act;

"Remembering that the loot, which was and transported on no less than fifteen elephants and almost 200 mules, included two royal crowns; almost 400 manuscripts, many of them beautifully illustrated; an icon of Christ with the Crown of Thorns, which the Ethiopian army traditionally took with it on campaign; a dozen, tabots, or altar stones; numerous processional and other crosses; two huge royal tents; the Emperor's great royal seal; the amulet he wore round his neck; and even hair from his head, etc., etc.;

"Bearing in mind that most of these artifacts were seized from the Church of Madhane Alam, or Saviour of the World, and thus constituted an undoubted act of sacrilege;

"Noting that the loot from Maqdala is no scattered in numerous British institutions, including the British Museum; the British Library; the Victoria and Albert Museum; the Royal Library, Windsor Castle; the Bodleian Library, Oxford; and Cambridge University Library; as well as in private possession;

We, the undersigned, support for the restitution to Ethiopia of the loot from Maqdala, as demanded by AFROMET, the Association for the Return of Maqdala Ethiopian Treasures".

2193 Signatures

  • Tigiste G
  • Mizan D
  • Yared D
  • Anthony E. W
  • Ras Al & Empress Kaya Selassie-Turner & C
    • Comments
    • "Thou shall not steal"
  • DAWIT SIBHATU H
    • Comments
    • there is no pride but shame in keeping and not willing to return the loots that characterise the culture and historical backgrounds of our civilisation.We deserve to have it back in an undisputed manner and respect!!
  • habtamu e
  • ABERE T
    • Comments
    • good job
  • Jennifer H
    • Comments
    • for justice and peace
  • Yitbarek A
  • Dr. Ayalsew Mekonnen D
    • Comments
    • Thank you for your cooperation.
  • Rahel T
    • Comments
    • Thank you for your cooperation.
  • EMEBET T
  • YESHI G
  • Sileshi D. M
  • Gad G
    • Comments
    • To the British "If you belive in justice return what you have stolen from Magdela, it belongs to ETHIOPIANS
  • Asmerom B
  • Mulugeta W
  • Fantayenesh Z
  • FASSIKAK K
    • Comments
    • I AM HOPEFUL THAT OUR HERITAGE WILL BE BACK WHERE IT BELONGS IN A SHORT TIME
  • Samson T
  • HAILE W
  • Aklilu H
  • Thomas P
    • Comments
    • Please return
  • Michael D
  • S I S
  • Mike T
  • Loretta H
    • Comments
    • The Treasures of Ethiopia belong to the Ethiopian people. Return them.
  • Engeda G
  • GAREDEW B
  • Binyam K
  • Assefa
  • Hiruy
  • Tafesse T. B
    • Comments
    • Thanks for your efforts
  • Mulugeta A
    • Comments
    • Please return the loot expeditiously!
  • Endalkachew Z
  • Fanayea
  • Eskinder A
    • Comments
    • Looting is a crime punishable by Law!
  • Alem
    • Comments
    • [email protected]
  • Daniel Y
  • Girmay
  • Nardos A
  • ABRAHA K
  • ADDIS
  • Addisalem N
  • Wouleta A
  • Mebratu
  • Abyssinia K
  • Benyam
  • Abebe A