We're all familiar with the footage of members of the Islamic State taking sledgehammers to ancient sculptures in Iraq and Syria, supposedly because such sculptures are idolatrous. But it turns out that the terror group has no problem making a profit off smaller sculptures that can be transported and sold on the black market. From Bloomberg's Erin L. Thompson:
Looted works are smuggled across the Iraq border into Turkey and other surrounding states, and end up in the hands of unscrupulous dealers and collectors in Europe and the Persian Gulf, who shop by photograph or over videochat. Authorities in Lebanon and Turkey have already seized hundreds of antiquities looted from Syria, but many more are making their way to market undetected. Experts have spotted pieces fresh from the ground for sale for tens of thousands of dollars in London galleries.Some antiquities are smuggled and sold directly by the Islamic State, with profits going into their central coffers. But the group has also figured out how to profit from the trade without doing any of the work of stealing. Impoverished Syrian and Iraqi civilians have pockmarked archeological sites with pits in search of antiquities. The Islamic State keeps watch over their work and collects a 20 percent "tax" on the value of whatever these diggers find. According to the Syrian Heritage Initiative of the American Schools of Oriental Research at Boston University, the so-called caliphate sometimes grants its fighters the right to collect this tax as part of their salary. In turn, the fighters give a portion of the money they collect to their central command. [Bloomberg]
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 11, 2024Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - bathroom blues, family feud, and more
-
5 blustery cartoons about the Stormy Daniels testimonyCartoons Artists take on gag orders, lurid details, and more
-
The Idea of You review: 'impossible escapism' starring Anne HathawayThe Week Recommends Steamy romcom about a 40-year-old who falls for a boy band singer
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostagesSpeed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 yearsSpeed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
-
Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for UkraineSpeed Read Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Israel preparing to flood Hamas tunnels with seawaterSpeed Read IDF pumps could drive out terrorists but critics warn of danger to hostages and Gaza water supply
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
