Terrorists in the Middle East, specifically ISIS in recent years, have plundered banks, sold oil and collected ransoms to pay for their crime spree, according to a report in Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
And sold history.
Literally, through its artifacts.
The subject of stolen cultural artifacts – and how they can be seized and kept from the underground international markets – was the focal point of a recent meeting among international law enforcement interests at the UNESCO office in Beirut.
According to international police and law enforcement coordinators, the meeting was held with the support of the Norwegian Embassy and focused on U.N. Security Council Resolution 2199/2015 for “the protection of cultural heritage in the Middle East.”
It sets up a direct link between trafficking in often-stolen cultural goods and the funding of terror.
“The resolution explicitly prevents trade with the Islamic State and other extremist entities and is binding under Chapter VII of the U.N. charter, which provides the framework for the Security Council to take enforcement action,” police officials said.
The meeting was used for various organizations that address the issue to share expertise on the problem.
They are the groups working with Iraq and Syria to regain control of their cultural artifacts and heritage.
Business Insider revealed earlier this year that ISIS was making an estimated $200 million a year from stolen artifacts.
“Around 100,000 cultural objects of global importance, including 4,500 archaeological sites, nine of which are include in the World Heritage List of .. UNESCO, are under the control of the Islamic State … in Syria and Iraq,” wrote Vitaly Churkin at the time. He held the title of Russian ambassador at the time.
For the rest of this report, and more, please go to Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
