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    Synopsis

    Conversely, the looting and symbolic destruction of the Mosul Museum in February 2015 and of the site of Palmyra in April 2015, which were cleverly mediatised by Daech, shook French public opinion...

    The destruction in March 2001 of the Buddhas of Bamiyan by the Taliban provoked very strong emotion in the international community, who watched with astonishment as an irreplaceable heritage site disappeared for good. However, this emotion, unfortunately, subsided rather quickly and the case, happening in a too remote country, was quickly forgotten by the public.

    Conversely, the looting and symbolic destruction of the Mosul Museum in February 2015 and of the site of Palmyra in April 2015, which were cleverly mediatised by Daech, shook French public opinion....

    Since the Arab Spring of 2011, we can measure how the destruction of heritage, the looting of sites and the illicit trafficking of cultural property are the result of these times of change and crisis, cultural property being a privileged target for occasional looters but also for terrorist groups. It is a highly profitable trade that feeds a large underground economy oriented towards the European and American market.

    It is also rapidly evolving due to conflicts, disparate law enforcement policies and capabilities and the displacement of wealth to other countries, now affecting Eastern Europe, Asia and the Gulf countries. The economic benefits gained from this illegal market, which according to the sources are estimated at $3-15 billion, are colossal. Even if these are unverifiable estimates, their interest is to make people aware of the scale of this traffic - the legal world art market was $63.7 billion in 2018.

    From 'Illegal Trafficking of Cultural Goods in Countries in Conflict', Netcher

    (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
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