Mexican Government Demands Halt to French Auction of Cultural Heritage: "These Are Our Relics"

"Legal Procedures Initiated to Ensure the Return of Relics"

The Mexican government has demanded a halt to an auction in France involving its cultural heritage and has initiated legal action.

According to foreign media outlets such as DevDiscourse.com on February 27 (local time), Claudia Curiel, Minister of Culture of Mexico, announced via X (formerly Twitter) the previous day that an auction house based in Paris was preparing to auction items including Mexican relics. She stated that legal procedures had been initiated to stop this auction. Curiel explained, "We have reached out through diplomatic channels to ensure the relics are returned to their country of origin and have commenced the necessary legal procedures."

Previously, Millon, an auction house in Paris, was scheduled to hold an auction titled "Les Empires de Lumiere" ("Empires of Light") on February 27, and it was confirmed that the auction list included 40 Mexican relics.

A post from the Mexican government urging the suspension of artifact auctions. Claudia Curiel, Minister of Culture of Mexico X

These relics date back to the era before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in the 15th century, and Curiel emphasized that the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH) has confirmed that they are protected under Mexican law.

In a letter sent to Millon, she stated, "There is no controversy that these relics are national property and inalienable assets." She added, "Since their export has been prohibited since 1827, the very fact that they currently exist overseas means they were exported illegally." However, Millon has not responded to requests to clarify its position on the Mexican government's demand. Currently, the auction house's website is inaccessible and displays only a notice stating it is 'under maintenance.'

Meanwhile, Mexico has made various efforts to recover relics that were taken abroad through multiple channels during the colonial era and after independence. This is not the first time the Mexican government has demanded the suspension of an auction and the return of relics believed to have been illegally exported after such items appeared in foreign auctions.

In fact, in March 2022, a planned auction in Belgium was suspended at the request of the Mexican government. However, in France, auctions have been held several times despite repeated requests from Mexico.

There have also been successful recoveries. In July 2022, a family in Barcelona, Spain, voluntarily returned 2,522 Mexican archaeological relics in their possession. The collection included pottery, small statues, and jewelry from various eras, including the Aztec civilization. The identity of the family and details of how the items were acquired were not disclosed, but it is presumed that the relics were stolen in Mexico in the past and then brought to Europe. This return was a voluntary decision, not the result of any legal compulsion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.