Terrorist organizations loot archeological sites in Quneitra

Foreign-backed terrorist organizations and antiquities smugglers have continued to loot archeological sites in the southern countryside of Quneitra province, according to the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM).

The DGAM’s Director-General Maamoun Abdul Karim was quoted on the official news agency (SANA) as saying that locals and workers in Antiques Department in Quneitra had asserted that terrorist organizations and Antiquities smugglers carried out secret excavations in al-Rafid town, which is rich with historical churches, khans and tombs dating back to the Byzantine and Islamic eras.

“Other secret excavations took place in hills of al-Muheir, Ahmar and Hawi Gharbi, which are key archeological hills in the area,” Abdul Karim said, adding that terrorists looted tombs located on the outskirts of Khan Sweseh area, which lies near the hills, in order to smuggle Antiquities abroad.

He pointed out that the competent authorities in Syria seized 525 metal coins from Antiquities smugglers two days ago.

“The coins were delivered to the DGAM butitturned out that they were counterfeit ,”  Abdul Karim declared, stressing that the DGAM works with the competent authorities in Syria, the international organizations and the Interpol to seize and bring back the smuggled antiquities.

The competent authorities seized during the crisis period over 6.500 stolen artifacts, while the state secured 300.000 artifacts.

http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/culturt/20483-syrian-artifacts-in-european-black-market-as-world-coalesces-to-protect-endangered-heritage

Basma Qaddour