Artifacts Collectors in Gulf States Trading in Precious Relics Stolen by ISIL Terrorists – British Writer

Nigel Morris, a reporter working for “The Independent” newspaper, wrote an article revealing how the Syrian antiquities are being stolen by terrorists of the so-called Islamic States in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and sold to artifacts collectors in the Gulf as to fund terrorist activities in the country.  

Morris said collectors in the Gulf States are fuelling a multimillion-pound trade in precious relics and artifacts looted by the so called ISIL from historic sites, mosques, museums and libraries in Syria and Iraq.

Statues, artworks, shrines, manuscripts, figurines, seals and coins are among the items being pilfered from locations controlled by ISIL terrorists across wide areas of their so-called “Islamic Caliphate”.

Locations targeted in Syria include the world heritage sites of the ruined city of Palmyra, the castle Crac des Chevaliers and medieval buildings in Aleppo. Experts believe the looting, as well as demolition of some ancient relics such as 2,800-year-old Hittite sculptures in Raqqa, represents the biggest threat to artwork and heritage sites since the Second World War, according to Morris.

Many of the antiquities are being sold by middlemen to wealthy collectors in the Gulf.

H. Mustafa