Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran v The Barakat Galleries Ltd

Subject Matter

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Jurisdiction — Claim by foreign state — Recovery of antiquities — Objects excavated and unlawfully removed from Iran — Iranian Government claiming return of objects it had never possessed — Whether obtaining title to objects pursuant to Iranian statute — Whether claim involving enforcement of penal or public law of foreign state — Whether patrimonial claim — Whether English court to recognise or enforce title absent Iranian Government's prior possession

[2007] EWCA Civ 1374; [2009] QB 22; [2008] 3 WLR 486; [2008] 1 All ER 1177; [2008] 2 All ER (Comm) 225, CA

Appellate History