Two tombs destroyed in Palmyra, ancient Syrian city considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tombs were reportedly felled by members of the Islamic State group using improvised explosive devices.
Tombs Destroyed in ancient Syrian City
After rigging improvised explosive devices, members of the Islamic State group destroyed two tombs in Palmyra this week. The tombs destroyed in the ancient Syrian city have been confirmed as the tombs of Mohammed Bin Ali and Nizar Abu Bahaa Eddine.
Mohammed Bin Ali was a companion of Imam Ali who was the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, while Nizar Abu Bahaa Eddine was a Sufi scholar whose tomb was built 500 years ago.
According to Syrian antiquities director, Maamoun Abdulkarim, visible graves such as the mausoleums are sacrilegious to the Islamic State group’s belief system. The group has banned any visit to the tombs and similar sites. Abdulkarim estimates that nearly 50 mausoleums have been reported destroyed since the group gained control of the city in May.
The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights has had reports from Palmyra residents and local informants that several tombstones have been destroyed. In all, about 200 years of the city’s history have been damaged or fallen to explosives and mines.
Other Artifacts and Monuments at Risk in UNESCO World Heritage Site
Though official reports of the extent of damage have yet been published, the Islamic State group is known for their demolition of statues and artifacts. Abdulkarim reported earlier in the week that IS had been strategically planting mines all around the city. However, there has been no confirmation if the group’s intent is to destroy the ruins or to defend their position in the city. In either case, two invaluable monuments of history have been decimated as a result.
The recent destruction of the tombs has bolstered more concern from the international community over the safety of both the city’s residents and the city’s architecture and artifacts. As a UNESCO world heritage site, Palmyra is home to many priceless artifacts, monuments, and sculptures from a unique time period in history.
IS released a statement in May promising to preserve the historical monuments in Palmyra; however, they also promised to completely demolish all monuments and tombs that they considered idolatrous.
With the Islamic State group’s history, the damage may not be limited to the two tombs destroyed, but has the serious potential for a more devastating outcome to hundreds of years of Roman, Greek and Persian history contained in the city.
