Thursday, November 13, 2014

So who is Joseph Braude, who was cited in a column by Thomas Friedman yesterday (see yesterday's post): convicted of stealing Iraqi antiquities

From Haytham:  "In case you’re curious, Thomas Friedman’s new Middle East “expert” plead guilty to the theft of Iraqi antiquities.

More on the story here:

"Mr. Braude, 29, faces charges of smuggling three 4,000-year-old cylindrical marble and alabaster stone seals. The relics, decorated with human and animal figures, had been part of a collection at the Iraqi National Museum, which was looted after the fall of Baghdad in April 2003.
He also is accused of lying to customs officials at Kennedy Airport in June 2003, saying that he had not been to Iraq, when he was first questioned about the seals, which were found in a plastic bag in his suitcase."

And on the result of the trial:

"Braude entered a plea of not guilty, went to trial, but on August 3, 2004 withdrew his plea entered a plea of guilty before the trial had concluded. On November 22, 2004, Braude was sentenced to six months home detention, two years probation and a special assessment of $300.”"