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Goran Tomasevic / Reuters
After months of protests and violent crackdowns, a look back at the violence that has overtaken the country.
An "emergency red list" detailing what kinds of archaeological artifacts are being looted in war-torn Syria is being drawn up to help prevent priceless treasures from being sold on the black market.
The International Council on Museums told NBC News it planned to produce the list, which will be circulated to customs and police officials worldwide, after becoming increasingly concerned about the extent of looting amid the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s regime and its bloody crackdown.
More than 20,000 people have died so far in Syria's civil war, which is now in its 18th month. But there is another human toll -- the huge number of people trying to flee the violence, forced to leave their homes, even leave the country. A rising tide of refugees is crossing Syria's southern border into Jordan. NBC's Ann Curry reports.
Julien Anfruns, director general of ICOM, said that "right now we are pretty much in the worst-case scenario in Syria" for looting and the destruction of ancient sites as the bitter conflict between Assad and the Free Syrian Army continues. Activists say between 23,000 and 26,000 have been killed since the fighting started last year.
The Arab Spring is dead -- and Syria is writing its obituary
The red list will contain pictures and details of the types of items that may have been looted, which Anfruns said would be a "powerful tool" for law enforcement authorities.
A bomb went off outside a mosque in Damascus on Friday, killing at least five policemen and wounding others, according to state-run Syrian television. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
"When officials seize [an] object, they can then say 'we have to be very careful, this may be a Syrian object,'" he said, enabling further investigations to take place to see if the piece was of "dubious origin."
Illicit art trade valued at billions
Anfruns said it was possible the regime was selling artifacts to raise money, but stressed he did not have evidence that this was happening.
"It's a situation that we have seen in some other places. It's definitely a possibility that we do not exclude," he said.
"Illicit traffic of art is a significant trade in the world – some of the valuations put that at between $6 billion and $7 billion every year," he said. "It's clear that Syrian antiquities are interesting for some parties. We really, really strongly advise any buyers to be extremely prudent … it's a serious legal matter and due diligence is even more necessary in the current case."
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Anfruns said there were laws in Syria designed to protect its cultural heritage and even buying artifacts sold by the Assad regime could fall foul of the law. It would also depend on the laws of the buyer's country.
"Honestly, in the current situation of conflict and looting and destruction of cultural heritage in Syria, everything that would be on the market will be of a suspicious origin," he said.
Machine guns operated by motorcycle brakes? Get a glimpse at the rebels fighting against Assad's forces in Syria's mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.
He said they were still at a preliminary stage with the first step to set up the group of experts who will draw up the red list over the next few months.
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Anfruns said the conflict was too "hot" in Syria to enable investigators to work out what had actually been stolen. "What we do know is there has been looting, but what we don't know is what has been looted," he said.
ICOM produces a number of red lists for areas where art and archaeological artifacts is at risk from thieves. It produced an emergency red list for Egypt last year during the Arab Spring uprising and for Haiti in 2010 after it was hit by a devastating earthquake.
Clay tablets taken in the night
Mousab Azzawi, chairman of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, told NBC News that ancient clay tablets bearing inscriptions had been taken away in black bags during the night from an archaeological site at Tal Sheikh Hamad in May this year by people apparently working with the consent of Assad's forces.
Azzawi said he thought the value of the tablets and other artifacts such as jars, tools and jewelry taken away from the site would be in the millions of dollars, adding "I would expect they are over $100 million."
"Now the main question, the big question, is what happened with this, who is looking after them [the tablets]?" he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticizes the U.S. over the situation in Syria. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
"One guy – this is not verified by us – but he said … the accents of the people who took the bags were Lebanese. He said they were with beards, which gives a hint it's Hezbollah. They are experts in this illegal trading," Azzawi said.
"If they are not sold now on the market to bring extra cash for the dying regime, they may be used later," he added.
Mission 'nearly impossible': Syria envoy downbeat on new job
But he said if – as he assumed the regime would claim – the artifacts were being taken away to preserve them, he said then this was being done in the "worst way for such a precious heritage."
"If they took them to a safe place, why didn't they take them in a reasonable way? These are very fragile."
Noah Charney, founding director of the Association for Research into Crimes against Art, told NBC News that stolen art had been used by dictatorial regimes to raise money for generations.
NBC News
People resisting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.
Charney said the Taliban had a track-record of breaking into tombs in Afghanistan, "destroying a huge amount and taking the rest of it to sell."
And he pointed to a report in the Germany news magazine Der Spiegal that 9/11 hijacker Mohamed Atta had tried to sell numerous pieces of stolen art to an art professor in Germany in order to buy an airplane.
Portraits from the frontline: Syrian rebels pose in Aleppo
The Nazi regime had also stolen "lots of art – not just from Jews" which was then sold to collectors often in the U.S. and U.K. before World War II.
"The idea of looting your own cultural heritage to fund a hostile or aggressive regime has a very rich history," he said.
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Leave a Comment:
This is US and arab state funded violence in syria, and is nothing more than a foreign backed coup. The FSA are nothing but terrorists. Look at how many CIA backed coups in the past 50 years have occurred and you will understand that this is the norm for USA, always meddling.
I think you missed the point of this article. This story is about the loss of a people’s cultural heritage, not the U.S. or CIAs involvement.
@TV Missile: First, you claim the FSA is a terrorist group. I'm not going into whether they are terrorists, but I know this; you don't take a rock to a gun fight. And about US and Arab backing for the FSA; you can't buy that gun you need with just the change in your pocket.
And OH NO!, the CIA is involved. Well, tell Mom on them! It's what they do, it's what our enemies do with their intel agencies. It's largely how we fought the Soviets during the Cold War. You don't take a rock gto a gun fight - unless you are a naive bleeding heart do-gooder.
I think you missed the point of my post, this would have not happened if the USA and the other arab states stops funding the FSA terrorists. We stop the funding of this war, and the looting stops. Simples.
@TV Missile: I just have to ask; where did you learn English?
What does that have to with with the article posted?
@TV Missile: Nothing, really. However, I am curious, you responded to my innocuous comment on your English, but have remained silent on my post #1.2 above.
I will respond, though not necessary. The CIAs involvement and our interference militarily in other countries is why they hate us, and why it leads to 911 style events. We did it in Libya, and now we are doing it in Syria. The CIA is a domestic terrorist organization.
@TV Missile: Of course they hate us, they hate each other, they hate everyone.
The CIA is a domestic terrorist group? My God man, I know the word "terrorism" and all its derivatives is a fluid term liberally applied, but you are taking it to the extreme.
I think you need to wake up and smell the air pollution rather freshly brewed coffee. How would you prefer the CIA operate, like a Human Rights NGO? You have no idea how many times they rescued our rumps while we were sleeping soundly in our safe and secure beds. And it was the CIA more than a private security system that let us sleep well.
It is what the CIA does, it is what any intelligence agency does. As I said in #1.2 above, don't take a rock to a gun fight. It seems to me you would arrive at a gun fight with a lecture and a critique sheet rather than a gun. Good luck with that!
Just because there is foreign backing does not mean it can occur at anywhere near this level without the substantial will of a highly significant percentage of the Syrian people.
The problem is that replacing the system with true democracy requires a respect for minorities. There is no rationale for allowing the voice of the many to prevail over basic human rights and equality for all, and the term "democracy" should imply equal rights for all.
Unfortuanately, I don't think either side of this conflict is capable of imposing true democracy with her inalienable rights.
Roger White:
For as intelligent person whom you would have us to believe you are, you make all your big words just flow together, you still not not seem to get the point which TV was making. So I will try and break it down for you to a point where even you can understand;
IT IS NONE OF OUR (USA) BUSINESS.
I am no English Professor but I do feel this statment requires a conjunctive adverb.
"I think you need to wake up and smell the air pollution rather (THAN) freshly brewed coffee."
@Times-Running-Out: Yes, I inadvertently neglected the use of a conjunctive, but if that is your only critiques then stay off the internet.
I guess TV Missile needs a spokesperson to clarify his/her views, but I don't think your take onhis/her comments are accurate.
Nice try though at sucking up. It's been a pleasure. I hope to hear from you soon.
Roger
@Times-Running-Out: Oops, a couple of errors in my first post to you. However, after reading your post #1.10, I found a couple of errors in your use of English.
Guess both of us should climb off the high horse together. Doesn't bother me, are you ready?
Hummmmmmmm .... I thought it was the human tragedy that was the issue .... somehow it always comes around to .... MONEY!
The loss of irreplaceable artifacts documenting a people’s rich history is a tragedy, albeit a cultural one. As the article stated the theft of priceless artifacts and works of art to fund oppressive regimes has a long tradition in history. Moreover, the destruction of objects deemed heretical against a particular
ideology is also well documented (e.g. the Taliban destroying the Buddhas of Bamyian, the recent destruction of the tombs in Timbuktu, the numerous conquests of Judaea by Rome). All I hope for is that the artifacts are recovered intact before they end up on some rich celebrity’s or oligarch’s mantel for their personal amusement.
I must have read a different article than moonbeam. The article I read was about irreplaceable historical artifacts, not money, and no where said they were more important than peoples lives.
It is moonbeam's personal problem to equate it to money and a lack of concern for human life.
Please someone tell me..If the regime sells artifacts and they are Still in power at the time of the sale how can they be declared illicit?
@1st... : Let's try this to answer your question; archaeological artifacts are the property and heritage of the ancestors and descendants of a culture. Such artifacts belong to the people of that culture, the state is the custodian of those artifacts.
roger - I completely understand what you are saying and agree. But wouldn't that be the "rule" for a "democratic" type of government? Being a "Dictator" what is the "State's" would technically be his as the "State" belongs to him. No? I think that is what 1st meant, though I could be wrong.
@Justopit: Hey, you have a point!
Yes, money. As an after thought..the rebel in the opening photo is shown carrying a Steyr-Aug rifle and not an AK-47...The Steyr is THE MOST EXPENSIVE rifle issued to only a very few armies...Where are the rebels getting the money to purchase a $3000.00 rifle instead of a $400.00 AK?
An AK-47 $400 an M-16 is $170 or so. I'm talking US Govt. cost not what you pay in a store. As for the Steyr-Aug it was probably a captured weapon. These guys are no fools on knowing what a weapon is. But when fighting the biggest problem is availibility of ammo for that weapon in the caliber required for it. The Japanese had many different calibers of weapons and this caused them to ammo shortages in places. We use 1 caliber for rifles and one for pistols, it cuts down on that type of ammo requirement for the everyday grunt. But we do have some special rifles thet require different ammo but that is kept in a controlled situation. FYI
Hummmmmmmmm ...
"The rifle and its variants have also been adopted by the armed forces of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Bolivia, Ecuador, Ireland, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Pakistan, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency."
Saudia Arabia is on the list ... lol
interesting observation; foreign backed funds i would presume.
Where are the shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft mortar rockets? Hey CIA and Saudi Arabia, the FSA need those as well.
Nice catch on the Steyr-Aug. I was sort of wondering that myself. That's a pretty "uptown" class of weapon vs. an AK-47.
So , again somebody stealing the wealth of a country being attacked by NATO'S thugs , I remember in Iraq , they all turned out in Israel and Europe , Wow I wonder who's stealing them now , NATO and Alqaida's Masters . ( The Saudis and Qataris ) are funding these terrorists , the US , NATO and Turkey arming them and smuggling them into Syria , that's a fact that no body denying , Hillary ,saudies , Qataris , and all NATO countries already admitted to that . and you all keep blaming Assad for all the killings , Alqaida are in Syria , every body knows that , we we still supporting them , Is there some thing wrong with that picture ??? or is that all along some of our politicians were supporting the Alqaida because after all , the Saudis and Qataris have most of our senators on their pay roll . SAD .
@my turn:
1. You don't KNOW who is luting the country's museums. It could be Assad, he's in desparate need of hard currency.
2. Yes, the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and some countries which are members of NATO are involved in this, but not NATO itself, let's make that disticntion once and for all.
3. Is suppose Syria's military and financial support from Russia and - of all countries - Iran is just fine with you. Syria was a Russian puppet and military outpost long before the rebellion. Iran uses Syria to accomplish its objectives in Lebanon and to one day foment war with Israel.
You cannot sit in front of your computer and send a post claiming Syria has never and does not meddle in the affairs of other nations, we all know better than that. Now that it is happening to them you start whining and crying like a little girl. Assad and his regime brought this on themselves. Countless Syrians have been dissatisfied with the Assad family regime for a long time. Those now supporting the FSA are finally allowing dissatisfied Syrians to do something about it.
Oh no my friend, Assad and his ruling class are not victims here, it is just a matter of the shoe being on the other foot.
Foreigners always like to say that it is America's foreign policy that gets them into trouble, that's true too. Here, it is Syria's foreign policy that is partly to blame for them having neighbors, insurgents and western countries bearing down on Syria. And now, Assad can't even get any decent help from the Russians. Good choice in making them you bedfellows. That wh...ing country will kick you out of bed once it can't get any more from you.
So, we can show where Assad is killing his people, don't tell us he is not. The other side is killing people too. But the other side has a good reason: Assad is a bloody tyrannt, just like daddy was.
The name FSA is given by NATO to these bunch of aimless hooligans who've nothing better to do.These kind of people will take up any kind of job for a buck due to the poverty created by the sanctions of the NATO.Now this is technical.Its a fight to survive to live the next day.
They're Muslims=Arabs how did they become like this?Was it somekind of experiment in Guantanamo or etc.?They need to see what is good for another Arab Nation and who's going to gain what form the regime change.They need to see Iraq as a living example.It was about liberating the Iraqi Peoples but they lost there identity instead.The museum got looted and the library that contained the scrolls that proved Iraq's heritage from Ibrahim's time was all destroyed.If the Israelis allies really did this,than why?Whats been hidden from the world??
Roger white you know about Syria as much as you knew about the WMD's in Iraq , people like you who's killing the innocents in the world , Assad's looted his museum , I have heard it all now , you people when you start lying and fabricating stuff , you have no limit , I am not crying about anything but the civilians in Syria , and specially the Christians , But its OK for the US to arm Alqaida now ,NO body see anything wrong with that , Hillary , McCain , Lieberman , Graham and now Obama , roger !! do not cry when these thugs turn on us like they did in Afghanistan , you are kissing the Saudis and Qataris now , the people that financed the attack on 9/11 , we went after Saddam and he was one the leaders that use to fight Alqaida , and now Assad , Alqaida hate Assad more than they hate us , and evidently , we hate Assad more than we do Alqaida , because we are arming and training these thugs , Go figure ????? where are the people screaming about this , I guess most of you forgot our heroes . and by the way Roger , what did Syria exactly did to us ??? IS THIS THE SAME SYRIA THE HELPED US IN THE FIRST IRAQ WAR ??? ASSAD WAS GOOD BACK THEN RIGHT?? ?? JUST LIKE QADDAFI , HE WAS GOOD MAN UP TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE NATO DECIDED TO GO IN AND STEAL LIBYA'S OIL AND WEALTH ???? GIVE AN FING BREAK MAN .
Like Gadhafi, Assad family been robbing the country's resources for decades. Another example of a mass murdering scumbag dictator, robbing while killing many thousands. Assad should put a bullet to his own head and pull the trigger instead of trying to take as many citizens as he can to their graves in his downfall.
@my turn: You neither thoroughly read nor understood my post. Judging by your substandard use of English, I can understand why. Furthermore, knowing that you have a Christian family in Syria, I tend to view your commentary on Syria as lacking in objectivity. Your trite use of names of American politicians is evidence of your bumper sticker approach to analyzing and critiquing American politics.
At one time I had appreciation for your views, but no longer. Now you just come off as a pi$$ed off Arab living in America. With you, everything is a conspiracy, you advance those theories through the use of glittering generalities.
Sorry my turn, you are not living in the real world. I don't have time for you any longer. Apart from our differences, I wish The Almighty watch over and protect your family in Syria.
I suggest that instead of watching this biased media,watch the Syrian news where it shows how the terrorists stole army clothes and raided and bombed hospitals and schools.If Assad had to do this why now when he had all the time during the 2008 war with Israel??!This media is a biased illiterate source of news and only makes the perpetrators look like angels.Its because its the Muslims who own the most richest lands and not Israel or the rest of the murderous governments