Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy has introduced a groundbreaking Bill in Parliament calling for the immediate prohibition of the sale of human remains, following the exposure of a deeply disturbing trade flourishing on major social media and e-commerce platforms.
Stomach-Churning Revelations in the Commons
In a harrowing address to the House of Commons, Ms Ribeiro-Addy issued a stark warning about the content of her speech, apologising in advance to colleagues with sensitive dispositions. The MP for Streatham detailed what she described as an "abhorrent" and entirely unregulated market, where human body parts are being commodified and sold with impunity.
The Macabre Inventory
The Labour backbencher presented research compiled by the British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO), which has been tracking this grim trade for years. The examples cited were nothing short of horrific.
The inventory included:
- Human skulls and skeletal bones, both partial and complete
- Disturbing specimens like shrunken skulls, elongated skulls, and even a child's shrunken head
- Skulls retaining hair and soft tissue attachments
- Wet sample human organs preserved in specimen jars, including fetal hearts and lungs
- Slices of human brain being offered for sale
From Body Parts to Bizarre Artefacts
Perhaps even more shocking was the revelation that there exists a substantial market for decorative objects crafted from human remains. Ms Ribeiro-Addy described a range of macabre items available for purchase:
- Wind chimes constructed from human skull caps accompanied by ribs and clavicles
- Candlesticks fashioned from stacked human vertebrae
- Finger crucifix pendants and necklaces made from human teeth
- Wallets crafted from what sellers term "human leather"
- Skulls fitted with brass nails for teeth and converted into functioning lamps
The "Lucky Dip" Phenomenon and Platform Exploitation
One of the most alarming practices highlighted was the sale of so-called "lucky dip" bags of bones, with prices ranging from £50 for small boxes to £90 for larger containers. These sales occur with absolutely no verification of the remains' origins, the age of the specimens, who they belonged to, whether consent was given, or what the buyer intends to do with them.
The MP emphasised that the most significant obstacle sellers face isn't legal restriction but rather the terms of service of platforms like Instagram, Facebook, eBay, Gumtree, and Etsy. Even these limited barriers are routinely circumvented through deceptive practices including misspelling keywords, mislabelling genuine items as replicas, or advertising in collections without explicitly stating intent to sell before completing transactions through private messages or in-person meetings.
A Regulatory Vacuum
Ms Ribeiro-Addy pointed to a shocking regulatory disparity, noting that the UK currently has stronger licensing rules governing animal remains than it does for certain human remains. She stated unequivocally: "In 2026, one can sell a piece of human remains or an object partially consisting of human remains, with no checks on how those remains were acquired."
The MP connected this trade to broader historical injustices, remarking: "Long after colonial rule, in our acceptance that racism is wrong, we continue to deny them dignity even in death."
Platform Migration and Enforcement Failures
The issue has been raised by BABAO's dedicated task force on the trading and sale of human remains, which has observed a significant migration of this trade from traditional e-commerce platforms to social media sites. Their research indicates that Instagram and restricted Facebook groups have become particular hotspots, with platform moderators intervening only minimally to date.
The direct messaging capabilities of these platforms make them ideal for facilitating illicit transactions, allowing buyers and sellers to exchange detailed information and arrange deals privately. Even in the rare instances where individual accounts are taken down, no meaningful effort is made to prevent the same individuals from resurfacing on the same or alternative platforms.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy's Bill represents a decisive call to action, demanding that this grotesque trade be brought to an immediate end through proper legislative prohibition and enforcement. The revelations have sparked urgent questions about online platform responsibility, ethical boundaries, and the fundamental dignity owed to human remains in contemporary society.
