Sale of Ottoman gravestones stopped

ISTANBUL

The gravestones of three men and a woman were on sale on a website. AA photo

The sale of Ottoman gravestones on the website of the High Road Auctions company has been stopped following the intervention of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry.

In a written statement, the ministry said the gravestones of three men and a woman had been put up for sale on the website of the British company with the title “Ottoman gravestone for sale.” The statement said the gravestones were not registered as “stolen” in Turkey, adding that Interpol had been consulted to determine whether or not the stones had been stolen. “As a result of talks with our London Culture Department, the sale of the gravestones was stopped and works have been initiated for them to be returned to Turkey,” it said.