ISIS
destroys cultural artifacts
May 5, 2016,
Jimmy Humphrey
The radical Islamist terrorist organization Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has destroyed at least 41 major cultural heritage sites
in Iraq, Syria, and Libya since June 2014, because they believe they represent “an
erroneous form of creativity, contradicting the basics of sharia law”, as well
as to cause shock to the world.
The heritage sites, some of which had been around for over a
thousand years, include religious sites that are Christian, Yazidi, as well as from
branches of Islam that ISIS feels do not agree with their ideologies. Other
sites that have been destroyed include libraries, various ancient monuments,
and even ancient cities such as Nimrud, an ancient Assyrian city built over
3,000 years ago. The destruction of heritage has been called the “most brutal
since WWII”.
Most sites have been destroyed by bulldozing, but explosives
have been used to destroy some sites. The rate of destruction is increasing,
with twice as many sites destroyed in 2015 versus 2014.
A Western Kentucky University student, Chandler DeGeorge,
said that it was “sad that it was happening”, referring to the cultural
destruction as well as the activities of ISIS at large.
In addition to destroying cultural heritage, ISIS has looted
items from these heritage sites to sell on the black market in order to finance
their operations. This looting has net ISIS over $300 million. In efforts to
weaken ISIS, the United Nations Security Council has passed Resolution 2199,
which calls for a concerted effort to end trade in looted artifacts.
ISIS is well known in the West for their terrorist
activities, which include acts of insurgent warfare, beheadings, and even
inspired acts of terrorism beyond Iraq and Syria. For instance, one of the two
shooters in the December 2015 San Bernardino shooting pledged allegiance to an
ISIS leader.
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment