ATHAR

Our Global Presence

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Explore the countries where ATHAR Project is actively working to protect cultural heritage and combat antiquities trafficking.

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"ARTIFACT WAR" movie
"ARTIFACT WAR" movie
Featured Investigation

"ARTIFACT WAR" movie


Research & Publications

Explore Research / Download Latest Report

Facebook’s Black Market in Antiquities

Facebook’s “Groups” feature, which allows users to create and control a contained network of individuals with “shared interests,” has become a facilitator for the expansion of antiquities trafficking networks. The Groups provide a seamless environment for digital interactions and cross-border networking between users interested in buying and selling antiquities, allowing them to communicate efficiently and discretely. The ATHAR Project’s report covers nearly two-years of investigativ...

Athar Team

Meet Our Team Members

Co-Director

Amr Al-Azm

Amr Al-Azm is a founder and board member on The Day After project (TDA) and currently coordinates the Heritage Protection Initiative (HPI) for cultural heritage protection at the TDA. He serves as a Co-Director of the ATHAR Project.

Co-Director

Katie A. Paul

Katie A. Paul is an Anthropologist based in Washington, DC, and Co-Director of the ATHAR Project. Her work investigates the trafficking of cultural property and its connection to transnational crime and terrorism.

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon
Researcher

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon is a doctoral candidate at the Gulf Studies Program, Qatar University. She was previously a Qatar History Instructor and a Research Associate at the National Institute of Advanced studies, Indian Institute of Sciences. 

KHALED HIATLIH
Researcher

KHALED HIATLIH

Khaled Hiatlih is a Syrian archaeologist Based in the Hague. He is coordinating the 3D modeling project in Syria (IDA), Focus Raqqa Project and ASOR Heritage protection initiative and participating in other initiatives.

Stéphane Ipert
Researcher

Stéphane Ipert

Stéphane Ipert is an art historian and trained conservator with a background in art law and crime. He served as the Director of the Heritage Library at Qatar National Library, where he developed expertise in combating the trafficking and facilitating the restitution of manuscripts and archives, with a particular focus on the MENA region and Central Asia.

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