ISIS War On Culture: Terrorist Group Calls For Destruction Of Great Pyramids And Sphinx
To this day, one of the most visited destinations in the world is the Great Pyramids of Giza. Recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World (and the only one that still stands), there is an estimated 3 million visitors annually that come to see them. Unfortunately, both history and culture mean nothing to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a terrorist group dead set on destroying the Great Pyramids of Giza. Not only that, ISIS has also called on destroying the iconic Sphinx, too.
The war on history, tradition, and culture appropriated by ISIS is currently a new incentive for the terrorist group, but one that has already resulted in the loss of history’s iconic wonders. The Inquisitr reported on such disrespect, which includes ISIS destroying the historic tomb of Jonah from the Holy Bible, ancient Middle Eastern artifacts in the Mosul Museum, and rare books in the Mosul Library. Yet, ISIS’ most outrageous show of disdain for history is not by the destruction of the aforementioned, but through the decimation of historic cities. This includes the bulldozing of the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra.
According to an article by Al Alam News through RYOT, the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, continues to wage the terrorist group’s war against non-religious monuments by turning their attention to both the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Apparently, al-Baghdadi calls said destruction of monuments (as well as historic towns and artifacts) a “religious duty,” since ISIS’ extreme interpretation of Islam views shrines, statues, art, and idols not attended for worship to Allah as distractions to the Muslim faith.
To be clear, the Egyptian necropolis is unlikely in any imminent threat from ISIS, but it is debilitating to many that the terrorist group is growing bolder in their efforts to eradicate icons of history in an attempt to bring in their Islamic Caliphate. International communities have become more concerned that vital pieces of early history could soon disappear if proactive steps to secure them are not taken.
The question that needs to be answered is why ISIS has suddenly targeted the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Most news outlets report that ISIS, though a dangerous threat to the modern world, does not presently have the allocated resources to pull off destruction of this magnitude. The reported assumption why ISIS might just be calling for its destruction is the fact it is the location of a recently filmed porn video.
Whatever the reason, ISIS’ “cultural cleansing” is now garnering the attention of history enthusiasts and preservers, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As a matter of fact, UNESCO has gone on record to call the terrorist group’s destruction of Nimrud, the city destroyed before Hatra, a war crime.
