"Western museums are in an ethical crisis of what they have stolen and what they can provide the public if they return stolen objects."

Dr. Monica Hanna speaking at the 2021
@LawyersofAfrica virtual conference

She said that restitution & reparation of stolen objects is not the only issue... their return comes with restitution of the knowledge embodied by these objects.

Napoleon stole the Rosetta stone from Egypt in the 1800's, Britain possessed it as a war item after defeating France. The stone helped many generations to understand ancient Egyptian history. A British Museum holds the artefact to date & refuses to negotiate repatriation claims

She said that the British museum's response is that if they return the Rosetta stone repatriation claim.. they we will lose all their collections... ()

So the French & Brits stole the Rosetta stone...

... and are credited with deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Voila, what a marvel! https://www.history.com/news/what-is-the-rosetta-stone