Mosul museum artefacts destroyed: ISIS video released

Iraq’s cultural heritage is being threatened as video footage has been released showing ISIS militants destroying ancient artefacts.

MOSUL – The militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which now controls vast areas in Syria and Iraq, has released a five-minute video clip showing bearded men using sledgehammers and drill machines to smash ancient artefacts, including a winged bull, dating back to the 9th century BC in the Iraqi city of Mosul. UNESCO has called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss how to protect Iraq’s cultural heritage.

Iraqi museum officials confirmed the authenticity of the video. However, Mosul’s exiled governor Asil Nujaifi says the destroyed artefacts in Mosul Museum were mostly reproductions of genuine pieces. Nujaifi accused the militants of stealing at least seven artefacts. He said UNESCO has alerted international auctions not to negotiate with the dealers.

“But fortunately some of the valuable items there were moved years ago to the National Museum in Baghdad. The items that were being hammered and destroyed in the video were only reproductions of the real ones. However, there were two items that were real and which the militants destroyed; one is the Winged Bull and the other one was the God of Rozhan,” said Nujaifi, referring to the horrifying video.

“We also noted that some genuine items were missing in the video, which shows that the ISIS took at least seven items ahead of destroying the museum. They also destroyed the items that they were not able to take with them,” he added.

ISIS fighters have occupied the museum since they took over Mosul last summer, but they had refrained from damaging the pieces, claiming they were guarding the museum.

Mosul Museum is the second largest museum in Iraq with its priceless Assyrian and Akkadian artefacts, dating back thousands of years. However, it was reportedly looted after the US invasion of Iraq in the presence of American troops in 2003. According to the local Kurdish authorities at the time, the American troops were around at the time of looting but they were unable to control the situation and left.

The National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad was also looted criminally after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Around 15,000 artefacts were lost in the chaos that followed the toppling of Saddam Hussain, out of which 5000 were later recovered. Most of the artefacts were sold into Western markets. The Iraqi National Museum was closed since 2003 and has been reopened recently as a response to the destruction of valuable Mosul artefacts. The Iraqi Deputy Tourism and Antiquities Minister, Qais Hussein Rashid, said the actions of ISIS had spurred them into opening.

The Middle East, the cradle of civilisation, has been ruled by Muslims for last 1400 years and has never seen such destruction and violence. Not only have ancient artefacts been protected, but pre-Islamic churches and Synagogues in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Iran can be seen intact. The recent events in Iraq and Syria are a direct consequence of US-led invasion and occupation which has allowed Al-Qaeda franchise to operate in the region.

– Tazeen Hasan, Correspondent (Asia: Middle East & Central)

Image courtesty: Poulpy | Wikimedia Commons