By: MUDASSIR
In February 2016, the United Nations Security Council, via Resolution 2199, committed to thwarting terrorist funding from oil, antiquities, and hostages.
On April 19, 2016, the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, in a U.S. House hearing, aimed to safeguard against cultural genocide.
By December 15 of the same year, the U.S. Attorney filed a complaint for forfeiture of antiquities linked to ISIL, revealing evidence of looting from archaeological sites.
A statement from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on April 13, 2023, shed light on the financial gains.
British coin dealer Richard Beale's admission to conspiracy and criminal possession of stolen property emphasized the extent of deceptive practices within the trade.
Published through Cambridge University Press, the widely accepted claim of antiquities trade being the third-largest illicit trade is challenged.
Yates and Brodie's paper calls for an end to reliance on unsupported claims, urging for high-quality data and expert analysis.