British Museum Plan

Disputed items in the collection

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  Elgin Marbles – claimed by Greece and backed by UNESCO among others for restitution^[101]
  
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  Benin Bronzes – claimed by Nigeria, 30 pieces sold by the British Museum privately to the Nigerian government in the 1950s^[102]
  
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  Ethiopian Tabots – claimed by Ethiopia^[103][104]
  
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  Four stolen drawings (Nazi plunder) – Compensation paid to Uri Peled for the amount of £175,000 by the British Museum^[105]
  
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  Achaemenid empire gold and silver artefacts from the Oxus Treasure – claimed by Tajikistan^[106]
  
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  Rosetta Stone – claimed by Egypt^[107]
  
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  Some 24,000+ scrolls, manuscripts, paintings, scriptures, and relics from the Mogao Caves, including the Diamond Sutra – claimed by the People's Republic of China^[108]
  
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  Gweagal Shield — claimed by Australia for the Gweagal people of New South Wales^[109]
  
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  Hoa Hakananai'a – claimed by Chile on behalf of Easter Island^[110]
  
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  Repatriation and reburial of human remains is a controversial issue, and the BM has issued a policy on the subject.^[111]
  

BP Sponsorship
The British Museum's relationship with the oil company BP, which has been a longstanding sponsor of the Museum, has been a source of controversy.
In May 2016, the British Museum was temporarily closed after Greenpeace climbers unfurled eight banners down the front columns of the British Museum in protest at BP's sponsorship of an exhibition about ancient Egypt.^[112]
In February 2019, hundreds of people occupied the British Museum in protest against BP's longstanding sponsorship of the Museum. Protestors also drew attention to the fact that BP lobbied the UK government to help it gain access to Iraq's oil reserves prior to Britain's invasion in 2003.^[113]
In July 2019, Ahdaf Soueif resigned from the British Museum's board of trustees in response to its "immovable" position on its sponsorship deal with BP. Soueif claimed that the money BP provided to support British Museum exhibitions could be obtained elsewhere.^[114]