Zeynep Boz gained prominence for her strong support of Greece’s efforts to repatriate the Parthenon Sculptures. Representing the Turkish Ministry of Culture at the 24th UNESCO ICPRCP session, she stated, “We are wholeheartedly looking forward to celebrating the return of the Sculptures to Greece, as this will signal a change in behavior towards the protection of cultural assets.”
Boz added that Turkey is unaware of any document legalizing Lord Elgin’s purchase of the Sculptures, suggesting there is no legal basis for the UK’s claim.
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As head of the Turkish Ministry of Culture’s anti-antiquities service, Boz participates regularly in UNESCO committees. She is an archaeologist with an MA in Art, Jurisprudence, and Ethics from the London Institute of Arts and Law. Since joining the Turkish Ministry of Culture in 2007, Boz has worked on international antiquities law and combating illegal trafficking. She has led campaigns to repatriate stolen Turkish antiquities and earned respect in the international archaeological community.
A challenge in her work is the distinction between Greek and Turkish antiquities, as many items she aims to repatriate to Turkey are ancient Greek works. Notable among her efforts is the comic “Artemis Journey,” about a statue of the goddess Artemis, created under her guidance.
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