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Source: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2014/09/turkey-syria-iraq-isis-artifacts-smuggling.html
The Islamic State Makes Millions from Stolen Antiquities
(Al-Monitor) Cem Erciyes - The Islamic State (IS) has been generating significant revenues from the plunder of historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq. IS encourages digs at archaeological sites and takes a share from the sales. Millennia-old historical sites have been systematically looted. All artifacts pass through Turkey on their way to buyers across the world. IS considers destroying Shiite tombs and mosques as well as Christian churches a duty, so it has no scruples about razing immovable cultural heritage and selling what is movable.