PARIS (AP) — A Paris court ruled Friday to allow an auction of dozens of Native American tribal masks opposed by the Hopi tribe and its supporters including actor Robert Redford, and despite the U.S. government's plea for the sale to be delayed.
The Hopi tribe will be extremely saddened by the decision, especially since the judgment recognizes that these masks have a sacred value.
On Thursday, the U.S. Ambassador to France sent a letter to the French government and the auction house asking for a delay to the sale to better consider the tribe's concerns.
The Associated Press is not transmitting images of the objects because the Hopi have long kept the items out of public view and consider it sacrilegious for any images of the objects to appear.
Greece wants them back; but opponents fear that would open the floodgates, forcing Western museums to send home thousands of artifacts.
The Hopi tribe will be extremely saddened by the decision, especially since the judgment recognizes that these masks have a sacred value.
On Thursday, the U.S. Ambassador to France sent a letter to the French government and the auction house asking for a delay to the sale to better consider the tribe's concerns.
The Associated Press is not transmitting images of the objects because the Hopi have long kept the items out of public view and consider it sacrilegious for any images of the objects to appear.
Greece wants them back; but opponents fear that would open the floodgates, forcing Western museums to send home thousands of artifacts.
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