The International Council of Museums notes with concern the increase in the looting, illegal sale and illicit trafficking of cultural heritage objects from Syria.
Recent reports from ICOM’s Syrian members have outlined the emergence of an active black market for cultural objects in Syria. Electronic treasure-hunting devices are openly sold in major Syrian cities and objects found during illegal excavations are publicly advertised for sale on social media. Moreover, there has been a noticeable increase in the production and circulation of counterfeited cultural objects, especially coins, creating additional challenges for the authentication and provenance verification of Syrian cultural objects.
ICOM calls on the relevant authorities in Syria and abroad to take decisive action to address this issue. ICOM also encourages collaboration with neighbouring countries, such as Lebanon, Türkiye and Iraq, to vigilantly monitor the transit of Syrian cultural objects and coordinate their efforts to curb this illicit trafficking.
ICOM’s members in Syria have recently launched awareness-raising campaigns at local level to increase public understanding of the dangers of illegal excavations, the legal consequences involved and the importance of preserving cultural heritage – especially in times of crisis. In 2018, ICOM published the Emergency Red List of Syrian Cultural Objects at Risk. This Red List was published to help art and heritage professionals, as well as law enforcement officials, identify Syrian objects that are protected by national and international legislation. Seven years after its publication, the Red List remains a vital tool in combatting the ongoing, and often resurgent, problem of the illicit trafficking of Syrian cultural objects.
In order to facilitate identification, the Emergency Red List illustrates the categories or types of cultural items that are most likely to be illegally bought and sold. Due to the great richness and diversity of Syria’s cultural heritage, the List is not exhaustive. Any cultural good that could have originated from Syria, including those not listed in the Red List, should be subjected to particularly detailed scrutiny and precautionary measures.
The list is available in Arabic, English, French, German, Swedish and Turkish.
ICOM calls on the international community and all stakeholders involved in the circulation of cultural goods to remain vigilant regarding the provenance of Syrian cultural objects and to report any suspicious transactions to the appropriate authority.
Should you suspect that a cultural object originating from Syria may be stolen, looted or illegally exported, please contact the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) dgam@syrianheritage.org
Should you wish to know more about the actions undertaken by ICOM’s members in Syria, please contact us at heritage.protection@icom.museum