19.09.2025 12:03
In operations targeting antiquities traffickers in Istanbul, thousands of artifacts were seized, including a calligraphic panel written by the calligrapher Mehmet Sami Efendi, who was wanted by Interpol for having stolen it from a mosque in Üsküdar 20 years ago, dated 1837-1912. Fifteen traffickers aiming to smuggle these artifacts abroad were arrested.
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Between June and September, 11 separate operations were carried out in 5 districts against historical artifact smugglers in Istanbul. Valuable artifacts were seized during the operations.
STOLEN FROM A MOSQUE IN ÜSKÜDAR IN 2005
The teams of the Istanbul Police Department's Smuggling Crimes Investigation Branch conducted operations against smugglers attempting to smuggle historical artifacts abroad. A total of 11 different operations were organized in the districts of Fatih, Şişli, Esenyurt, Bağcılar, Kadıköy, and Beşiktaş between June and September. In the raids, 15 suspects were captured and taken into custody. During searches at the addresses and workplaces of these suspects, thousands of artifacts were seized, including a calligraphy panel written by Calligrapher Mehmet Sami Efendi, which was stolen from Üsküdar Defterdar Tahir Efendi Mosque on February 2, 2005, and dated between 1837-1912.
THERE ARE ALSO ARTIFACTS FROM THE GREEK/ROMAN EMPIRE PERIOD
Among the seized artifacts, in addition to the calligraphy panel, there were a total of 2,627 coins made of gold, silver, bronze, and nickel, which are believed to belong to the periods of the Greek/Roman Empire, as well as a mosaic piece with human figures. Additionally, a total of 454 objects, including pişot, dagger, sword, candlestick, candle holder, goblet, seal, icon, etc., which are understood to belong to the Ottoman Empire period, and jewelry in the form of bracelets made of 47 pieces of ivory were also seized.
The seized historical and cultural artifacts were shown to the press. It was learned that these artifacts would be delivered to the General Directorate of Foundations, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums Directorate, the Istanbul Hagia Sophia Historical and Experience Museum, and the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Directorate after the necessary procedures.
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