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FBI Warns Art Collectors About ISIS - Stolen Artifacts from Near East Region are Entering the Marketplace!

Art News

  • FBI warning to art collectors isis
  • FBI warning to art collectors isis
August 28, 2015
Anika D.
Anika Dačić graduated in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade and is currently pursuing MA in Literary and Cultural Studies. Her interests lie in social and cultural aspects of contemporary art production and she especially enjoys writing about street and urban art. Likes to knit, play adventure video games and host quiz nights at a local bar.

Earlier this week FBI released an official statement warning collectors to be on high alert when purchasing antiquities from Near East region, as many of them might be plundered by the ISIS in Syria and Iraq. As many recent reports show, illegally obtained artifacts are finding their way into the international art market, primarily the US, and many individuals state that they have lately been offered antiquities removed from Syria or Iraq. In May, U.S. Embassy returned over 400 ancient cultural artifacts to the Government of Iraq and the Iraq National Museum but the new events show that the problem stays unsolved.

FBI warning to art collectors isis
Dura Europos covered in looters’ pits

FBI Official Warning to Art Collectors

In a short one-page document ISIL Antiquities Trafficking FBI states that the satellite images show industrial-level looting at Syrian and Iraqi archaeological sites. Apparently in the state of crisis terrorist organizations saw art trafficking as one of the main sources for financing their activities. Except the warning FBI, also notes that the “antiquities from Iraq remain subject to Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions under the Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Sanctions Regulations” and purchase of looted objects can be punishable by law as it provides financial support to terrorist organizations.

FBI warning to art collectors isis
City of Mari dating from ca. 3000-1600 BC featuring several pits in the area of Zimri-lim’s palace

ISIS Blowing Up Cultural Relics

In recent times we have been witnessing many atrocities committed by the ISIS regarding the destruction of heritage sites, some of the being on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most recent controversial event was the destruction of Roman-era Baal Shamin temple in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra which was condemned as the “war crime” by the UNESCO representatives. Although, the main reason for destruction of pre-Islamic monuments seems to be ideological, due to their idolatrous nature, the pillage and looting also brings substantial source of financial funds to terrorist organizations.

FBI warning to art collectors isis
ISIS blowing up temple in Palmyra. Photo via CNN

Stealing History

So how do you stop this looting of history? After the blowing up of ancient temple in Palmyra and beheading of the antiquities expert when he refused to reveal the hiding place of valuable antiquities it seems that there is nothing that can stop terrorist organizations from deciding the faith of historical heritage. The ransacking of archeological sites seem to be motivated by cultural reasons as well as materialistic ones. Since there is no way of stopping ISIS from destroying historical monuments the least one can do is to be careful when purchasing looted antiquities.

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Featured images: The destruction of Palmyra temple via CNN Satellite imagery of heritage sites covered by looters’ pits via Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs