Thirty-five countries supported the move, which was initiated by Russia and drafted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. The main theme of action in the resolution is to ban any trade with ISIL including the smuggling of oil as well as the trade in cultural property.
ISIL benefiting from antiquities
ISIL stormed the Iraqi city of Mosul last year and captured a large collection of historic and cultural artifacts. The group has generated a huge sum of money through selling antiquities looted from the city’s major museums and universities.
ISIL is also earning huge cash through illegal sale of oil in the areas close to the Turkish border. A report by the UN in November 2014 estimated that ISIL’s average income from oil smuggling is around USD 850,000 to USD 1.65 million per day.
The UNSC resolution bans any oil purchase from Takfiri terrorist groups, including ISIL, and the al-Nusra Front, which is mainly based in Syria. The measure also bans individuals and entities from paying ransom to secure the release of ISIL-held hostages.
According to the resolution, governments must “prevent terrorists from benefiting directly or indirectly from ransom payments or political concessions.” It also urges all 193 UN member states to take “appropriate steps” to prevent any trade of cultural properties, which could largely benefit the terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.
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