12th March 2015 Heritage sites attacked ISIL ransack ancient Iraqi city in latest attack on heritage sites The extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have ransacked the ancient city of Dur-Sharrukin, known today as Khorsabad, a 2,700-yearold village in northern Iraq. The attack has caused a lot of damage across the ancient city of Dur-Sharrukin and is the latest in a series of attacks on the country s heritage sites. The group have recently attacked other ancient cities including Nineveh, Nimrud and Hatra. The latest attack on Dur-Sharrukin was confirmed in an official statement by the head of Iraq s antiquities board and the country s antiquities minister on Wednesday (11 March). They said that the city walls had been razed (razed means completely destroyed). The militants attack also involved looting, burning historical manuscripts, ransacking temples and destroying shrines. The full extent of the damage is not yet known. Dur-Sharrukin is a city well known for its archeological treasures and ancient history. It is famous for its giant human-faced, winged-bull statues, in particular. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Adel Shirshab has called upon world leaders for help to stop the damage from getting any worse. ISIL is a group of people who believe that their idea of Islam should exist across the Middle East. The group have a specific idea of how people should live. Their fighters have come from all over the world, including Britain, and have taken over a large part of northern Iraq and Syria. ISIL have a very strict interpretation of Islamic law and believe that all Muslims should live in a particular way. ISIL is also known as the so-called Islamic State (IS) as the terrorist group believe they have started to create a caliphate. Dur-Sharrukin is well known for its famous winged-bull sculptures with human faces. These can be seen at the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad. See below. News Story Original Version (Primary) schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org
More historical sites destroyed ISIL, the extremist group, have attacked the ancient city of Dur-Sharrukin in Iraq. 12th March 2015 The city, now known as Khorsabad, has 2,700 years of history. The attack has caused a lot of damage. This is the latest in a series of attacks on heritage sites in Iraq and Syria. The group have also attacked other ancient cities including Ninevah, Nimrud and Hatra. An Iraqi minister confirmed the latest attack on Wednesday 11 March. A statement said that the city walls had been razed (razed means completely destroyed). The militants have also destroyed shrines, statues and temples and burnt historical books. Dur-Sharrukin is well known for its ancient history and archaeological treasures. It is famous for its giant bull statues, which have human faces and wings. The Iraqi government has called upon world leaders for help to stop the damage from getting any worse. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a group of people who believe that their idea of Islam should exist across the Middle East. Their fighters have taken over a large part of northern Iraq and Syria. ISIL have a very strict interpretation of Islam. They believe that all Muslims should live according to these strict laws. ISIL is also known as the so-called Islamic State (IS) Some of the Dur-Sharrukin bull statues can be seen at the Iraqi National Museum. News Story Simplified Version
WHY ARE IS FIGHTERS DESTROYING HISTORICAL TREASURES? ISIL rejects any form of worship involving images and icons. It considers shrines and statues to be false idols which should be destroyed. The religion of Islam does not allow images to be made of its God. There are no pictures or statues in mosques. Instead, they are decorated with beautiful patterns and calligraphy (written script). ISIL have taken this belief to an extreme. They are using it as a reason to destroy any icon or statue, and to attack ancient sites containing these items. Some of the sites existed before the Islamic religion began. However, these acts of violence are not just committed for religious reasons. Destroying precious artefacts causes shock worldwide and advertises the group s hardline views. They are also selling some artefacts to make money and fund their activities. HOW HAVE HISTORICAL TREASURES BEEN TREATED DURING PAST CONFLICTS? SPOILS OF WAR Historically, plundering and looting were just part of war. The treasures of an area were considered the spoils of war booty, rightfully won by the victors. SHARED HISTORY This attitude changed in more modern times as people realised that humans share the same history and objects from the past have value to everyone. Understanding their importance led many western empires (including the British) to take artefacts from the countries they had conquered and place them in their own museums. By the Twentieth Century many people felt that this activity was wrong and artefacts should be left where they were created. Nimrud Hatra Ninevah Dur-Sharrukin THE SECOND WORLD WAR The widespread bombing of WWII destroyed historic buildings and heritage sites all over the world. Most, but not all, of the damage to cultural sites was accidental. However, under Hitler, the Nazis systematically went about looting foreign treasures from the countries they had invaded. Recovering these works of art and returning them to their rightful owners is still ongoing. THE HAGUE CONVENTION After the Second World War, the scale of the cultural destruction resulted in the 1954 Hague Convention (for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict). This international treaty, updated in 1999, seeks to protect culturally significant items and stop such destruction ever occurring again. 126 states have signed the agreement. IRAQ AND SYRIA Unfortunately, groups like ISIL have no respect for such international agreements. The only rules they accept are from their own interpretation of Islamic Law. The ancient city of Hatra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but this didn t stop the fighters attacking. Whatever your culture, laws or beliefs, one thing is certain: once these historical treasures are destroyed, they are gone forever. Ancient Assyrian relief 865-860 BC from Nimrud showing King Ashurnasirpal and a dead lion The fortified city of Hatra withstood invasions by the Romans.
KEY TOPIC VOCABULARY CAN you match the correct definition to the key words in this news story? ISIL A place listed by UNESCO for its outstanding cultural or physical value. Sites include the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. heritage A form of Islamic government led by a spiritual leader. Islam The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. artefact An object made by humans which has cultural or historical interest. antiquities A place considered holy to a religion for a particular reason, which people from that religion will visit in order to worship. shrine Objects, buildings or works of art from the ancient past. caliphate The second biggest religion in the world. Followers of Islam are called Muslims and worship the God Allah. UNESCO Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A group of fighters which has taken over large parts of northern Iraq and Syria. World Heritage Site Valued items and traditions from the past, including buildings, places, objects, art and music.
KNOW THE FACTS FIND the answers to these questions to make sure you know the facts behind the news story: 1) Who is ISIL? 2) Which ancient sites in Iraq have been attacked by ISIL? 3) Describe the damage ISIL have been causing to the region s historical sites and artefacts. 4) What public statements and comments has Iraq s antiquities minister made about the attacks? 5) Why is ISIL attacking historical sites like Dur-Sharrukin?
POINTS OF VIEW WHAT DO YOU THINK? Discuss these questions with other people to develop your ideas. 1) Why do you think people are so shocked by these attacks? 2) Why are cultural artefacts which have survived from the past so valuable to people? 4) Do you, or your family, have any possessions which mean a great deal to you? Are any of them irreplaceable? (This means it would be impossible to replace them if they were destroyed.) What makes them irreplaceable? 3) Should we care about old buildings and objects when many people are dying in the fighting which is occurring in Iraq and Syria? SHARE your thoughts on these questions with your partner school.
HERITAGE SITES ATTACKED VOTE, COMMENT, ACT CAN you explore this news story even further? 1) YOUR HERITAGE Find out more about the early civilisations of the country in which you live. Choose three sites and three objects which have cultural and historical significance to your area. Ask your partner school to do the same and compare your heritage. 2) IRAQ AND SYRIA In ancient history, the countries now called Iraq and Syria were part of a region known as Mesopotamia. This is widely thought to be the oldest civilisation in the world. Writing was invented here around 3,000 BC. Since then, many different religions and civilisations have influenced the area, each leaving their mark. Can you find out more about this fascinating part of the world? Read the children s poet John Agard s, brilliant book Book to find out more about how writing first developed in this region thousands of years ago. 3) LEARNING FROM OTHERS Events in Iraq and Syria are making headline news at the moment. It s important to remember that the views and actions of ISIL fighters are extreme and do not represent the millions of Muslims living around the world in peace. Ask your teacher to find an adult in your community, who is a Muslim, who would be willing to come in and share their thoughts and opinions with you on this difficult, controversial subject. Ancient Assyrian stone relief fragment covered by cuneiform writing.