Stephen Fry is urging for the Parthenon Marbles to be returned to Athens.
Stephen Fry
The television star has leant his support to the new campaign to bring Greek marble sculptures back to their home country, with a petition also calling for British museums' trustees to be allowed to make the decision on artefacts. The British Museum Act 1963 currently states that a museum's trustees can not dispose (or repatriate) items unless in very special circumstances.
Stephen wrote on Twitter: "Britain, let’s stand on the right side of history and return the Parthenon Sculptures to their home in Athens. Please sign the @ReuniteMarbles petition to give power to the Trustees of the British Museum to consider their reunification #LostMyMarbles (sic)"
A parliamentary petition is calling for the Trustees of the British Museum to be allowed to "accept repatriation requests".
At the time of writing, over 1000 people have already signed the petition, which reads: "The Government should be responsive to global calls for artefacts to be returned to their place of origin, and should amend the British Museum Act 1963 to allow the Trustees of the British Museum to consider and potentially facilitate their repatriation. The British Museum Act 1963 does not permit the Trustees to dispose of any artefacts (save in a small number of special circumstances), even following reasonable repatriation requests. The Trustees should be permitted by law to act with greater freedom and flexibility in recognising the educational and historical value and cultural enrichment of outstanding artefacts, such as the Parthenon sculptures and Benin Bronzes, and in returning them to their place of origin."
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