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The Takeaway

America & The Growing Trade in Syria's Looted Art

From PRI (Opens in new window) and WNYC (Opens in new window)
Fire breaks out at the historical Umayyad Mosque as a result of a reported missile attack by the Syrian regime forces. Oct. 1, 2014
Fire breaks out at the historical Umayyad Mosque as a result of a reported missile attack by the Syrian regime forces. Oct. 1, 2014 (Ahmed Muhammed Ali/Anadolu Agency)
A Syrian rebel walks inside the damaged Umayyad Mosque in the old city of Aleppo hours before the Syrian army retook control of the complex on October 14, 2012.
A Syrian rebel walks inside the damaged Umayyad Mosque in the old city of Aleppo hours before the Syrian army retook control of the complex on October 14, 2012. ( TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP)
Destroyed religious icons are pictured inside a church in the ancient Christian town of Maalula on April 20, 2014.
Destroyed religious icons are pictured inside a church in the ancient Christian town of Maalula on April 20, 2014. (RIM HADDAD/AFP)
A Syrian rebel fighter takes a rest at a destroyed section of the Umayyad Mosque complex in the old city of Aleppo on April 16, 2013.
A Syrian rebel fighter takes a rest at a destroyed section of the Umayyad Mosque complex in the old city of Aleppo on April 16, 2013. (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP)
A broken artifact depicting Jesus Christ is seen at the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula, 56 kilometers northeast of the capital Damascus on May 14, 2014.
A broken artifact depicting Jesus Christ is seen at the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula, 56 kilometers northeast of the capital Damascus on May 14, 2014. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A damaged church steeple is seen in the ancient Christian town of Maalula, 56 kilometers northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus, on May 14, 2014.
A damaged church steeple is seen in the ancient Christian town of Maalula, 56 kilometers northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus, on May 14, 2014. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows damaged icons inside the church of the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula.
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows damaged icons inside the church of the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows a damaged statue of the Virgin Mary in the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula.
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows a damaged statue of the Virgin Mary in the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows a damaged icon of the Virgin Mary in the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows a damaged icon of the Virgin Mary in the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows damages in the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula, 56 kilometers northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus.
A picture taken on May 14, 2014 shows damages in the monastery of Saint Takla in the ancient Christian town of Maalula, 56 kilometers northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
This DigitalGlobe satellite image documents the scale of destruction that looters continue to inflict on archaeological heritage sites during the ongoing conflict in Syria.
This DigitalGlobe satellite image documents the scale of destruction that looters continue to inflict on archaeological heritage sites during the ongoing conflict in Syria. (DigitalGlobe)
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows columns in the courtyard of the temple of Baal at the ancient city of Palmyra damaged by artillery shelling.
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows columns in the courtyard of the temple of Baal at the ancient city of Palmyra damaged by artillery shelling. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture depicting a prince from the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, displayed at the city's museum.
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture depicting a prince from the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, displayed at the city's museum. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture found in the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, and now displayed at the city's museum.
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture found in the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, and now displayed at the city's museum. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture found in the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, and now displayed at the city's museum.
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture found in the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, and now displayed at the city's museum. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows the burnt carvings in the temple of Baal at the ancient city of Palmyra in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus.
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows the burnt carvings in the temple of Baal at the ancient city of Palmyra in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. (JOSEPH EID/AFP)
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