Afghanistan – MD Harris Institute

Regardless of religion, nationality, culture, or theme, historical sites are a precious and irreplaceable legacy of man. They must be preserved when possible and rebuilt when necessary.

By Mark D. Harris

History is the story of man, who we are and where we came from. More importantly it is the story of God’s work with and for man. As such every part of it is important, even parts that don’t please us or fit our world view. Not every historical location can be saved because man today needs space just as man yesterday did. However, we need to save as much as we can. Sometimes we ruin irreplaceable artefacts through ignorance. Worst of all is the intentional destruction of historical sites by those who disagree with what they represent.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is notorious for destroying irreplaceable historical sites in Iraq and Syria, especially Christian and Muslim. The Afghani Taliban has done the same in Afghanistan, notably the Buddhas of Bamiyan (March 2001). However, some sites are shattered by other powers, often in times of war. Christians in ancient Rome devastated pagan temples. Ottomans badly damaged Christian churches and artifacts, including the Hagia Sophia, when they conquered Constantinople in 1453. Allied bombing leveled the 6^th century monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy in World War II (1944). American-led forces fighting ISIS have devastated Mesopotamian historical sites, and Russian bombing has done the same.^[1]

Below is a list of historical sites that have been destroyed. We should discover what we have lost, repair what we can, and help prevent losing more in the future. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) tracks World Heritage sites, including those at risk.

Site	Who did it	When	Source
Palmyra, Syria	Islamic State	Sep 2015	ISIS Destroys Another Monument at Palmyra Ruins in Syria http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/05/world/middleeast/isis-destroys-another-palmyra-ruins-monument-in-syria.html?_r=0
10th-century Chaldean Catholic St Markourkas Church in Mosul, Northern Iraq	Islamic State	Jul 2015	ISIL destroys historical church in Mosul http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/156360/isil-destroys-historical-church-in-mosul
Citadel of the Ancient City of Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat), Northern Iraq	Islamic State	May 2015	Iraq: Isis ‘blows up UNESCO world heritage Assyrian site of Ashur’ near Tikrit http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-blows-unesco-world-heritage-assyrian-site-ashur-near-tikrit-1503367
Many ancient sites in Kathmandu and surroundings, Nepal	Earth quake	Apr 2015	Nepal’s Kathmandu valley treasures: Before and after http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32472307
Ruins of the City of Nimrud, Northern Iraq	Islamic State	Mar 2015	ISIS Attacks Nimrud, a Major Archaeological Site in Iraq http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/world/middleeast/isis-attacks-iraqi-archaeological-site-at-nimrud.html?_r=0
Hatra Northern Iraq	Islamic State	Mar 2015	Islamic State ‘demolishes’ ancient Hatra site in Iraq http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31779484
Assyrian Palace at Khorsabad North-eastern Iraq	Islamic State	Mar 2015	Tracking a trail of historical obliteration: ISIS trumpets destruction of Nimrud http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/world/iraq-isis-heritage/index.html
Mosul Museum Northern Iraq	Islamic State	Feb 2015	Tracking a trail of historical obliteration: ISIS trumpets destruction of Nimrud http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/world/iraq-isis-heritage/index.html
Mosul Library Northern Iraq	Islamic State	Feb 2015	Tracking a trail of historical obliteration: ISIS trumpets destruction of Nimrud http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/world/iraq-isis-heritage/index.html
Al-Arba’een Mosque in Tikrit, Central Iraq	Islamic State	Sep 2014	URGENT: ISIS destroys historical Al-Arbain mosque in Tikrit http://www.iraqinews.com/features/urgent-isis-destroys-historical-al-arbain-mosque-tikrit/
St. Elijah’s Monastery, oldest Christian monastery in Mosul, Iraq	ISIS	Aug-Sep 2014	http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/01/20/isis-destroys-iraqs-oldest-christian-monastery-satellite-photos-confirm.html?intcmp=hpbt1
Jonah’s Tomb outside Mosul Northern Iraq	Islamic State	Jul 2014	Tracking a trail of historical obliteration: ISIS trumpets destruction of Nimrud http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/world/iraq-isis-heritage/index.html
13th-century shrine of Imam Awn al-Din Northern Iraq	Islamic State	Jul 2014	The Destruction of the Middle East http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4973/destruction-middle-east-antiquities
Buddhas of Bamiyan Central Afghanistan	Taliban	Mar 2001	Ancient Buddhas Will Not Be Rebuilt – UNESCO http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/03/ancient-buddhas-will-not-be-rebuilt-ndash-unesco/

References

[1] https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21726750-jihadists-are-not-only-ones-blame-war-arab-world-has-devastated

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