The Islamic State's barbaric killings have horrified the
world, but they aren't only targeting the living. ISIS has been systematically
looting and destroying ancient artifacts since it took over large swaths of
Syria and Iraq, and it appears their efforts have been intensifying in recent
months. Last week, the group released video of its members destroying ancient
statues in the Mosul Museum, and on Thursday Iraq officials reported that they
are bulldozing the Nimrud archaeological site. Under ISIS's strict Salafi
interpretation of Islam, worshiping at shrines and tombs is idolatrous — but
that's not the only reason the group destroyed dozens of mosques, churches, and
other religious sites. ISIS began looting and selling off antiquities when it
took control of large parts of Syria. Within a month of the fall of Mosul, at
least six Shiite mosques and four shrines to Sunni Arab or Sufi figures had
been destroyed in the northern Nineveh province. ISIS posted photos of the
landmarks being bulldozed or blown up with explosives on social media. One of
the most notable losses is the Sunni Mosque of the Prophet Younis, which is
believed to be the burial place of the prophet Jonah, who was swallowed by a
whale. Over the past few months, ISIS has stepped up its efforts to purge
libraries in Mosul of books they consider offensive. ISIS reportedly raided
many other libraries around the city and held book burnings in the street. Last
week, ISIS released a five-minute video of its members smashing their way
through the Mosul Museum, toppling statues and taking sledgehammers to
centuries-old artifacts. Iraq’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported on
Thursday that ISIS has damaged Nimrud, an archaeological site just south of
Mosul, using heavy military vehicles. At the reopening of the Baghdad Museum
last weekend, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his country would not
let ISIS erase its history.
Clifton Coleman
March 6th, 2015
3:55 pm
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