Earlier in May, in what was just one incident in a string of many atrocities committed against the Syrian people and their heritage, the ISIS destroyed what is thought to be a priceless 3000 year old Assyrian statue. The statue was confiscated from looters who had been illegally excavating ancient dig sites in what is fast becoming a lucrative trade in Syrian antiquities. The statue was found at Tell Ajajah in Hasakeh province, and by all measures it would have fared better had it been smuggled across the border and sold, instead of falling into the hands of the ISIS who promptly destroyed it, gleefully posting pictures of their heinous act online. Nor is this the first incident of its kind. The ISIS and other extremist Jihadist groups in Syria have a penchant for destroying historical artifacts, especially statues depicting men or animals. The earliest and most symbolically important of which was the beheading of the statue of Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri in his hometown of Ma'arra after rebels took it almost 2 years ago. The incident sparked outrage at the time among Syrians, and the symbolism of the act was not lost. Al-Ma'arri was a famous 10th century scholar, poet and philosopher well known for having strong anti-religious tendencies. He was noted for being a free thinker, and espousing logic and reason above dogma, tradition and authority. In one of his books he teaches that religion is a "fable invented by the ancients, worthless except for those who exploit the credulous masses" and "Do not suppose the statements of the prophets to be true; they are all fabrications. Men lived comfortably till they came and spoiled life. The sacred books are only such a set of idle tales as any age could have and indeed did actually produce". You can clearly see why his legacy was targeted with such vehemence by the Islamist extremists. But other tales of destruction and desecration are a little more bizarre, especially the case of the ISIS cutting down a 160 year old oak tree near Atmeh in Idleb in November last year. The tree was a local attraction and a place for families to go picnic. The ISIS justified cutting it down by claiming that the tree was an idolatrous symbol which was falsely worshipped. This is the claim often made by radical Islamic groups as justification for the destruction of ancient monuments, most famously when the Taliban detonated and destroyed the Buddhas of Bamiyan in 2001. The act caused a global outrage then, and a concerted effort by leading Muslim scholars to intervene and save the statues, but to no avail. Sadly, no one is intervening now to save Syria's rich history from systematic destruction. But it is ludicrous to suggest that an oak tree was in imminent danger of "being worshipped", when the notion is patently absurd and false in modern day Syria. Even the ISIS must have realized that that was not the case, so what was the real reasoning behind cutting it down? Without a doubt, the real reason behind the destruction and defacement of cultural and historical icons in Syria is to project power and authority. It is just another way for the extremists to announce to the locals that we are in charge now, we can do whatever we want, and we are here to stay. Aside from deliberate destruction, historical sites across Syria have been subject to an indirect form of devastation as both sides regularly make use of them as military outposts or bases. This indifference and irreverent exploitation of world heritage sites (there are 6 of them named by UNESCO as under serious threat across Syria) speaks volumes about the mentality of those conducting the war; the blatant and absolute disregard for humanity, its history and its heritage, which is by all measures a war crime. The iconic crusader castle, the Krak de Chevaliers in Homs province was victim to such desecration. The castle was stormed and used as a base by rebels in July 2011 and sustained heavy bombardment and damage from regime forces who later recaptured it March 2014. The opposite scenario is now unfolding in Aleppo, where regime forces are using ancient buildings in Aleppo's old quarter as forward bases of operation. One such base was the historic Carlton Hotel, which was completely destroyed when rebels detonated tons of explosives placed in specially dug tunnels underground earlier this month. The devastation to the surrounding historically important area near the citadel was staggering. And now, even the citadel itself, for thousands of years a symbol of this ancient city, is threatened with the same fate as Al Nusra and other Islamist groups have vowed to destroy it in order to get rid of the regime forces garrisoned inside. Truly, Syria's tragedies are being compounded by the loss and destruction of its past, just as its future is suffering the same fate. The coming generations may grow up never being able to see the wondrous treasures and rich heritage their country was home to, the ones we were fortunate enough to enjoy. It is a great crime that is now being committed against the Syrian nation, an unforgivable blight which touches the core of what we all value and cherish as human beings, those vital links to our distant rooted past. The heritage being obliterated is not just Syrian, it belongs to all of mankind, and it's about time we all did something to stop it and end this hideous war. Without a doubt, the real reason behind the destruction and defacement of cultural and historical icons in Syria is to project power and authority. It is just another way for the extremists to announce to the locals that we are in charge now, we can do whatever we want, and we are here to stay. Aside from deliberate destruction, historical sites across Syria have been subject to an indirect form of devastation as both sides regularly make use of them as military outposts or bases. This indifference and irreverent exploitation of world heritage sites (there are 6 of them named by UNESCO as under serious threat across Syria) speaks volumes about the mentality of those conducting the war; the blatant and absolute disregard for humanity, its history and its heritage, which is by all measures a war crime. The iconic crusader castle, the Krak de Chevaliers in Homs province was victim to such desecration. The castle was stormed and used as a base by rebels in July 2011 and sustained heavy bombardment and damage from regime forces who later recaptured it March 2014. The opposite scenario is now unfolding in Aleppo, where regime forces are using ancient buildings in Aleppo's old quarter as forward bases of operation. One such base was the historic Carlton Hotel, which was completely destroyed when rebels detonated tons of explosives placed in specially dug tunnels underground earlier this month. The devastation to the surrounding historically important area near the citadel was staggering. And now, even the citadel itself, for thousands of years a symbol of this ancient city, is threatened with the same fate as Al Nusra and other Islamist groups have vowed to destroy it in order to get rid of the regime forces garrisoned inside. Truly, Syria's tragedies are being compounded by the loss and destruction of its past, just as its future is suffering the same fate. The coming generations may grow up never being able to see the wondrous treasures and rich heritage their country was home to, the ones we were fortunate enough to enjoy. It is a great crime that is now being committed against the Syrian nation, an unforgivable blight which touches the core of what we all value and cherish as human beings, those vital links to our distant rooted past. The heritage being obliterated is not just Syrian, it belongs to all of mankind, and it's about time we all did something to stop it and end this hideous war.
