Australia is investigating allegations that Joan Howard stole collectable artefacts from archaeological sites during her husband’s diplomatic trips (Australian Associated Press, ''Indiana Joan': Perth woman, 95, accused of looting Egypt artefacts' Guardian Friday 24 November 2017)
The Australian government has confirmed it is looking into the case of a 95-year-old Perth woman accused of looting artefacts from countries including Egypt. Monica Hanna of Egypt’s Heritage Taskforce posted an open letter to Australia’s ambassador to Egypt, Neil Hawkins [...] Hanna said Howard had taken advantage of her diplomatic status and her behaviour was “not acceptable”. [...] The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was investigating the matter and was obliged under Unesco conventions to return foreign cultural items that had been illegally exported from their country of origin.According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mrs Howard's digs were not authorised by any educational institution, nor given permission from Egyptian or other Arab authorities. The Howard family has declined to comment on the case.
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