ISIS sells antiquities on eBay

BLOUIN | ARTINFO
By Anneliese Cooper, Noelle Bodick

The Palmyra Roman Ruins in Syria, which have been seized by ISIS. (Getty)

While ISIS made headlines for annihilating ancient Assyrian statues in Mosul and Nineveh earlier this year, it has also been quietly selling pilfered antiques to raise funds for the self-declared caliphate. Online sites like eBay, Facebook, and Whatsapp are serving as the platforms for this estimated $300 million market. “Demand from western collectors is very high,” said Dr. Mark Altaweel of University College London. “There’s also a specific requirement for pre-Islamic art.” [link]