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TRANSCRIPT
The Destruction of Heritage
Sites in the Middle East
Lauren Liotti
2016
Overview
Overview
Hague Convention for the
Protection of Cultural Property
Motivation
• Ideological
• Salafism
• Political
• Erasure of culture
• Sensational
• Media Coverage
• Financial
Results
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f83i5k6EgTs&i
ndex=5&list=PLAtfWAdHzWmBiIJ-
evsIWulgCr8w8uS0n/
Destruction in IraqFall of Mosul
List of World Heritage Sites in Iraq
The Fall of Mosul
• June 10th-14th 2014
• City in Northern Iraq
• ISIS released a video showing members using
sledgehammers to smash some of the city’s ancient
artifacts
• Overnight, the city was transformed and sharia law
was imposed
Destruction of the Library
• February 2015
• 100,000 books and manuscripts destroyed
Destruction in SyriaSite of Palmyra
List of World Heritage Sites in Syria
Destruction of the Site of
Palmyra
• http://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-
interactive/2016/apr/08/palmyra-after-islamic-
state-isis-visual-guide
• Report of the UNESCO Rapid Assessment Mission
to the World Heritage “Site of Palmyra” Syrian
Arab Republic, 23-27 April 2016
Other Heritage Sites
Aleppo
Role of the UNUNESCO
UNESCO
• United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization
• “contribute to peace and security by promoting
international collaboration through education, science,
and culture”
• 21 May 2015 Resolution
• 40th World Heritage Committee Session
Unite4Heritage
Sustainable Development Goal 16
Goal 16: Peace, Justice,
and Strong Institutions
UNDP: “Peace,
stability, human rights
and effective
governance are
important conduits for
sustainable
development”
Solutions
• Unfortunately, where ISIL still holds territory with
heritage sites, not much can be done
• The work of UNESCO and other organizations like
the Global Heritage Fund is making progress in
restoration and prevention
Thank you
“We are one humanity…In any culture
there are outstanding objects and sites of
outstanding universal value.”
-Irina Bokova
Citations
• Barnard, Anne, and Hwaida Saad. “Palmyra Temple Was Destroyed by ISIS, U.N. Confirms.” New York Times [New York] 31 Aug. 2015: n. pag. New York Times. Web. 27 July 2016.
• Bokova, Irina. “Culture Under Fire.” New York Times [New York] 6 Apr. 2012: n. pag. New York Times. Web. 27 July 2016.
• Gladstone, Rick, and Maher Samaan. “ISIS Destroys More Artifacts in Syria and Iraq.” New York Times [New York] 3 July 2015: n. pag. New York Times. Web. 27 July 2016.
• Gonzalez, Susan. “We All Have a Stake in Protecting Cultural Heritage, Says UNESCO Director-General.” YaleNews [New Haven] 12 Apr. 2016: n. pag. YaleNews. Web. 27 July 2016.
• ISIS Culturally Cleansing the Middle East: UNESCO Director. By RT. Youtube. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2016.
• ISIS Destroys Mosul Museum Artifacts. By Youtube/Islamic State. New York Times. New York Times Company, 26 Feb. 2015. Web. 27 July 2016.
• “Islamic State Group: Crisis in Seven Charts.” BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2016.
Citations
• Kramer, Andrew E., and Sewell Chan. “When Cultural Heritage Is Caught in the Cross Hairs.” New York Times [New York] 18 May 2016: n. pag. New York Times. Web. 27 July 2016.
• Mackey, Robert. “Historians Pore Over ISIS Video of Smashed Statues for Clues to What’s Been Lose.” New York Times [New York] 26 Feb. 2015: n. pag. New York Times. Web. 27 July 2016.
• “Site of Palmyra.” UNESCO. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, n.d. Web. 27 July 2016.
• Syrian Arab Republic. Report of the UNESCO Rapid Assessment Mission to the World Heritage “Site of Palmyra.” N.p.: UNESCO, 2016. Digital file.
• “UNESCO Experts Take Preliminary Stock of Destruction in World Heritage Site of Palmyra.” UNESCO. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 27 Apr. 2016. Web. 27 July 2016.
• #Unite4Heritage: The Story so Far. By UNESCO. Youtube. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2016.
• The War on Syria’s History. New York Times. New York Times Company, 17 May 2016. Web. 27 July 2016.