As Foreign ISIL Fighters Return Home... the Antiquities Market Must be Policed

Writing for the Middle East Institute, Amr Al Azm and Katie A. Paul ask an important question: with ISIL collapsing, what happens when its foreign fighters return home? Will cultural racketeering and  terrorism follow them?

authorities must act now to coordinate with their regional and international counterparts in order to keep up with the looming wave of ISIS fighters returning home and seeking new sources of funding. Likewise, Europe and the United States should be prepared to take action as their markets feed a trade that contributes to the ongoing cycle of instability in the MENA region. Unlike years past, today we have knowledge of the capabilities of groups like ISIS, which offers an important opportunity to proactively address these crimes rather than reacting to the losses after they have happened.