Documenting ISIL's Antiquities Trafficking: Corresponding Visuals to the Remarks
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
To navigate to a particular image use the links below:
-
Organizational structure of ISIL's Antiquities Division
- Letter identifying ISIL Antiquities Division leadership in the Western Governorates
- Image of an antiquity found in Abu-Sayyaf’s electronic media
Organizational structure of ISIL's Antiquities Division
Text-based version (English translation):
| Diwan |
| Antiquities |
| Western governorates | Eastern governorates |
| Marketing | Excavation |
Exploration and identification of (new) sites |
Exploration and identification of known sites |
Administration |
Letter identifying ISIL Antiquities Division leadership in the Western Governorates
Full-size image (Arabic):
Full-size image (English translation):
Text-based version (English translation):
[Left side]
There is no God by Allah.
Date: 21 NOV 2014
[Right side]
The Islamic State
Diwan of Natural Resources
Antiquities Division
Number: 008
To Brother [redacted] keep him.
Greetings,
We would like to remind you that the person in charge of the Antiquities Division in the Al Sham Wilayahs [ISIL Governorates in the Levant] shall be Abu-Sayyaf al-‘Iraqi. The reason being is that he is very knowledgeable in this field, and that [redacted] is a simpleton who can’t manage the division. Moreover, people in the Levant who work in the field of antiquities are weak of faith and Abu-Sayyaf has experience in dealing with them.
God bless you.
21 NOV 2014
Your loving brother [a name not discernible in the signature]
Image of an antiquity found in Abu-Sayyaf’s electronic media
Front View:
Side View:
Additional antiquities found in Abu-Sayyaf’s electronic media
Artifacts found in Abu-Sayyaf’s physical possession
Letter providing authorization for certain individuals to excavate and supervise the excavation of artifacts in ISIL-controlled territory
Full-size image (Arabic):
Full-size image (English translation):
Text-based version (English translation):
Islamic State
Diwan of Natural Resources
Antiquities Division
Number 001
Dated: 16 OCT 2014
To the brothers in the Islamic State,
Allow the brother [redacted] to excavate and supervise the Antiquities.
1 – The individual in charge of ‘Ayyash area is [redacted]
2 – The two individuals in charge of the ‘Ayyash area are [redacted]
3 – The person in charge of Handan area is [redacted]
May God reward you
This letter is valid for 16 months from the issue date.
Your brother Abu-Sayyaf al-‘Iraqi
[TC: stamp and signature]
Receipts for payment of “war booty” tax
Full-size versions (Arabic):
Full-size versions (English translation):
Text-based versions (English translation):
|
The Islamic State Diwan of Natural Resources Antiquities Division |
In the name of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate |
Date: Number 101 |
| I, the below signed: |
Abu-Sayyaf al-'Iraqi |
||
| Received from the brother: | [Redacted] | ||
| The amount: | 2,960,000 SYP | Written: | Two million hundred nine hundred sixty thousand SYP exactly |
| Notes: |
1/5th the value of the Antiquities Sold in Al Khayr governorate |
||
|
Recipient signature: [Signature]
|
Submitter signature: [Signature] [Seal of the Diwan of Natural Resources, head of Antiquities] |
||
|
The Islamic State Diwan of Natural Resources Antiquities Division |
In the name of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate |
Date: Number 102 |
| I, the below signed: |
Abu-Sayyaf al-'Iraqi |
||
| Received from the brother: | [Redacted] | ||
| The amount: | 2,152,000 SYP | Written: | Two million hundred fifty-two thousand SYP exactly |
| Notes: |
1/5th the value of the Antiquities Sold in Al Khayr governorate |
||
|
Recipient signature: [Signature]
|
Submitter signature: [Signature] [Seal of the Diwan of Natural Resources, head of Antiquities] |
||
|
The Islamic State Diwan of Natural Resources Antiquities Division |
In the name of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate |
Date: Number 103 |
| I, the below signed: |
Abu-Sayyaf al-'Iraqi |
||
| Received from the brother: | [Redacted] | ||
| The amount: | 191,560 SYP | Written: |
One hundred ninety-one thousand five hundred sixty SYP exactly |
| Notes: |
1/5th the value of the Antiquities Sold in Al Khayr governorate |
||
|
[Signature] [Seal of the Diwan of Natural Resources, |
Submitter signature: [Signature] [Seal of the Diwan of Natural Resources, head of Antiquities] |
||
Memo banning unauthorized looting
Full-size image (Arabic):
Full-size image (English translation):
Text-based version (English translation):
[Beginning of Translation]
The name of God the most compassionate and most merciful
The Islamic State
The General Committee
Date: 18/11/1435
13 SEP 2014
Thanks be to the Almighty Allah, prayer and peace upon the Messenger of Allah and upon his Household and Companions and those who followed him afterwards:
Administrative Order Number /5/
It is prohibited for any brother from the Islamic State to excavate antiquities or give the permit to anyone from the public without receiving a stamped permit issued from the Diwan of Natural Resources and Minerals Antiquities Division.
Any previous assignment or permit to any one is considered null whoever the issuing source might be, holder of such a permit must report to the Diwan of Natural Resources – Antiquities Division to obtain a substitute.
Anyone proven to be in violation of this order, since its issuing date, is considered disobedient to this order and is subject to a penalty in accordance to Sharia courts.
May Allah reward you.
Stamp of the Islamic State
The General Governing Committee
[End of Translation]
