Takfiri terrorists target Syria’s existence and time-old civilization

Apart from the killing and destruction caused by the terrorist organizations of the ISIS and al-Nosra Front, these takfiri terrorists target Syria’s existence, history and civilization. This fact was clearly manifested through recurrent attacks they carried out against famous cultural, religious and archaeological sites that spread in various Syrian governorates.

Maaloula is a town in Damascus Countryside with a Christian population where terrorism took a severe toll after terrorist groups ran over it, only to later come under the army’s control last April.

Kassab is a scenic Syrian town near the border with Turkey that has a predominately Armenian population. Terrorists backed by the government of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan overran the town late last March, committing crimes against the population there that drew an international outcry.

The Syrian army recaptured Kassab and declared it free of terrorists in mid-June, restoring tranquility and peace to it.  Kassab and the nearby villages bore witness to the colossal damage done to the locals’ properties and the town’s infrastructure.

The acts of terrorists in Kassab have strangled every aspect of life there and damaged the religious and cultural heritage of its locals.

Terrorists linked to Takfiri organizations blew up a part of the eastern fence of the Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo. The Takfiri terrorist organizations booby-trapped a tunnel they dug under the wall of the Mosque with high-explosive materials and then they detonated it causing the collapse of the eastern exterior wall of the Mosque. It was not the first time the Takfiri organizations target the Umayyad Mosque. On 24th of April, 2013 terrorists blew up the minaret and the southern gate of the sanctuary. The repeated onslaughts on the city’s archaeological features reflect the relentless endeavor of extremists working for the Saudi and Turkish regimes to demolish the cultural heritage of the city, whose ancient part is registered by UNESCO on World Heritage sites list since 1986.

The adoption of resolution 2199 is a milestone for enhanced protection of cultural heritage in Iraq and Syria. It is also a clear recognition that the pillage, destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage are more than a cultural tragedy. This is also a security and political imperative to be taken into account in all peace efforts.

Pillage of Iraq’s and Syria’s culture has reached an unprecedented scale. It fuels the conflicts by providing revenues for armed groups and terrorists. This resolution acknowledges that cultural heritage stands on the frontline of conflicts today, and it should be placed at the frontline of security and political response to the crisis.

The destruction of the cultural heritage of the two countries is a loss for all humanity and it is our common responsibility to stand up for its protection.

 UNESCO World Heritage Committee recommended during its 38th session protecting the world heritage properties which are listed on the threatened world heritage. Syria’s neighboring states are called once again to combat illicit trafficking in the Syrian cultural heritage.

Several exhibitions and artistic activities were held in various European capitals to familiarize the European people with the acts of theft and sabotage that have befallen the archeological sites in Syria, as inflicted by the armed terrorist groups, intentionally to a large extent. A raft of photos, videos and reports have been posted on the internet, showing the massive damage caused to archeological and religious sites and monuments in Syria by the armed terrorist groups.

These deliberately inflicted acts of sabotage have been dismissed by the Syrian government as attempts at targeting-and effacing if possible-the historical and cultural heritage and civilization of Syria.

This heritage concerns the entire humanity and not just Syria, and it is of the utmost importance to protect it. So the new UN resolution would be of great importance for protecting Syria’s archeological and historical sites if its neighbors abide by it and halt their unlimited military and financial support for terrorists.

K.Q