Someone has rightly commented that under Daesh (the so-called Islamic State) history is now becoming history. Is world community so helpless as not being able to prevent a mad crowd to loot, ransack and destroy our shared heritage at its free will? This February, they destroyed ancient artifacts at the central museum in Mosul, and in March they used explosives and bulldozers to ransack the centuries old ruins of Nimrud, one of the Iraq’s greatest archaeological treasures. Then this rabid group moved towards the ruins of Hatra. Now it’s Palmyra — nicknamed as Pearl of the Desert, after looting its valuable artifacts, it’s being destroyed bit by bit. Its 2000-year old Baalshamin temple has now been destroyed. Earlier 80-year-old Syrian archeologist, Khaled Al-Asaad, who spent his entire life in preserving these gems of the ancient world from Palmyra was brutally beheaded, only because he refused to reveal the location of artifacts which have been moved for safekeeping. It’s obvious IS was looking for these treasures to make some quick bucks in the black market. Daesh is not alone in this madness — their brethren in Mali and Afghanistan did the same by destroying centuries old valuable manuscripts and Buddha status.
I just wonder why the world is so incapacitated to bring this insanity to an end. It’s a mental disease spreading country after country — on one knows who is next. Sad days ahead.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia