Director of the British Museum Hartwig Fischer speaking at a news conference (AFP)

The British Museum's Director has resigned, and the deputy director has temporarily stepped away from their position due to mishandling suspicions of widespread artifact theft. This situation has raised international concerns about systemic failures and caused embarrassment.

Hartwig Fischer took responsibility for the Museum's inadequate response to theft warnings involving numerous objects in 2021, resulting in a police inquiry due to missing, stolen, or damaged items from the collection.

Fischer acknowledged the Museum's failure to handle the warnings and the ensuing issues in his resignation statement, which was accepted by the Museum's trustees. Jonathan Williams, the deputy director, voluntarily stepped back from responsibilities pending an independent review of the theft suspicions.

Initially, Fischer defended the Museum's response to a tip-off about stolen artifacts but later admitted that a comprehensive audit in 2022 revealed a larger problem. He retracted his earlier statements and expressed regret.

The incident sparked discussions concerning artifact safety, particularly the Parthenon marbles, reigniting debates about their repatriation. Despina Koutsoumba, the director of the Association of Greek Archaeologists, stated that the British Museum's claim of safety for the marble can no longer hold. This situation has dealt a blow to the Museum's reputation and credibility.

Fischer, a German art historian, had previously announced his intent to step down from his position after serving for eight years. He described his resignation as an attempt to prevent distraction and acknowledged his privilege in leading the museum.