Poor Stewardship: Over 6000 Artifacts Are Back to Syria

Arian Zwegers, "6,500 Smuggled Artifacts Are Back to Syria"  28 December 2015

In an exclusive interview with Sputnik, Dr. Ma'moun Abdel-Kareem, head of the Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums in Syria said that its employees managed to retrieve approximately 6,500 smuggled ancient artifacts and return them home. Several countries in the Middle East have cooperated with Syria in order to bring back 6,500 smuggled antiquities, the expert told Sputnik. "We got back ancient artifacts and registered them in our departments, precisely those in Damascus. I should highlight that Lebanon brought around 90 artefacts back to Syria," Abdel-Kareem said. At the same time he mentioned that not all neighboring countries cooperated with Syria on the issue. For instance, Turkey and Jordan refused to provide Syria with any information on the smuggled artefacts, while Ankara even accused the members of the mission "of politicizing the operation." 

I think you have to question the wisdom of sending anything back to Syria where it comes under threat of being destroyed by military action or worse. This is ridiculous, the corrupt and genocidal regime of Syria cannot be trusted.