This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/world/middleeast/isis-palmyra-syria-antiquities-scholar-beheaded.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
ISIS Beheads Syrian Antiquities Scholar in Palmyra ISIS Said to Behead Syrian Antiquities Scholar in Palmyra
(34 minutes later)
DAMASCUS, Syria — Islamic State militants beheaded one of Syria’s most prominent antiquities scholars in the ancient town of Palmyra, then hung his body from one of the town’s Roman columns, Syrian state media and an activist group said Wednesday. DAMASCUS, Syria — Islamic State militants beheaded one of Syria’s most prominent antiquities scholars in the ancient town of Palmyra and then hanged his body from one of its Roman columns, the Syrian state news media and an activist group said on Wednesday.
The killing of 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad was the latest atrocity perpetrated by the militant group, which has captured a third of both Syria and neighboring Iraq and declared a self-styled “caliphate” on the territory it controls. The killing of the scholar, Khaled al-Asaad, 81, was the latest act by the militant group, which has captured a third of both Syria and neighboring Iraq.
Since IS overran Palmyra in May, there have been fears the extremists, who have destroyed famed archaeological sites in Iraq, would demolish the 2,000-year-old Roman-era city at the edge of the town — a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the Mideast’s most spectacular archaeological sites. Since the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, overran Palmyra in May, there have been fears that the militants, who have destroyed famed archaeological sites in Iraq, would demolish the 2,000-year-old Roman-era city at the edge of the town, a Unesco World Heritage site.
The Sunni extremist group, which has imposed a violent interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, believes ancient relics promote idolatry. IS militants claim they are destroying ancient artifacts and archaeological treasures as part of their purge of paganism. The destruction IS has wreaked adds to the wider, extensive damage it has inflicted on ancient sites, including mosques and churches across Syria and Iraq. The Sunni extremist group, which has imposed a violent interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, believes ancient relics promote idolatry. Islamic State militants claim they are destroying ancient artifacts and archaeological treasures as part of their purge of paganism. The destruction adds to the wider, extensive damage the group has inflicted on ancient sites, including mosques and churches across Syria and Iraq.
According to Syrian state news agency SANA and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, al-Assad was beheaded on Tuesday in a square outside the town’s museum. The Observatory, which has a network of activists on the ground in Syria, said dozens of people gathered to witness the killing. Al-Asaad had been held by the IS for about a month, it added. According to the Syrian state news agency SANA and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain, Mr. Asaad was beheaded on Tuesday in a square outside the town’s museum. The group, which has a network of activists in Syria, said dozens of people gathered to witness the killing. Mr. Asaad had been held by the Islamic State for about a month, it added.
His body was then taken to Palmyra’s archaeological site and hung from one of the Roman columns, Maamoun Abdulkarim, the head of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Damascus, told SANA. His body was then taken and hanged, Maamoun Abdulkarim, the head of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Damascus, told SANA.
Al-Asaad was “one of the most important pioneers in Syrian archaeology in the 20th century,” Abdulkarim said. IS had tried to extract information from him about where some of the town’s treasures had been hidden to save them from the militants, the antiquities chief also said. Mr. Asaad was “one of the most important pioneers in Syrian archaeology in the 20th century,” Mr. Abdulkarim said.
SANA said al-Asaad had been in charge of Palmyra’s archaeological site for four decades until 2003, when he retired. After retiring, al-Asaad worked as an expert with the Antiquities and Museums Department. The Islamic State had tried to get information from him about where some of the town’s treasures had been hidden to save them from the militants, Mr. Abdulkarim added.
Al-Asaad, who held a diploma in history and education from the University of Damascus, wrote many books and scientific texts either individually or in cooperation with other Syrian or foreign archeologists, SANA said. Among his titles are “The Palmyra sculptures,” and “Zenobia, the Queen of Palmyra and the Orient.” SANA said Mr. Asaad had been in charge of Palmyra’s archaeological site for four decades until 2003, when he retired. After retiring, he worked as an expert with the Antiquities and Museums Department.
He also discovered several ancient cemeteries, caves and the Byzantine cemetery in the garden of the Museum of Palmyra, the agency added. Mr. Asaad, who had a degree in history and education from the University of Damascus, wrote many books and scientific texts either individually or in cooperation with other Syrian or foreign archaeologists, SANA said.
“Al-Asaad was a treasure for Syria and the world,” Khalil Hariri, al-Asaad’s son-in-law who works at the Palmyra’s archaeological department told The Associated Press, speaking over the phone from the central Syrian city of Homs. “Why did they kill him?” He also discovered several ancient cemeteries, caves and the Byzantine cemetery in the garden of the Museum of Palmyra, SANA added.
“Their systematic campaign seeks to take us back into pre-history,” he added. “But they will not succeed.” “Al-Asaad was a treasure for Syria and the world,” Khalil Hariri, Mr. Asaad’s son-in-law who works in Palmyra’s Archaeological Department, said, speaking over the phone from the central Syrian city of Homs. “Why did they kill him?”
Hariri, who is married to al-Asaad’s daughter, Zenobia, said his father-in-law had been a member of President Bashar Assad’s ruling Baath party since 1954. Hariri added that al-Asaad is survived by six sons and five daughters. “Their systematic campaign seeks to take us back into prehistory,” he added. “But they will not succeed.”
Since falling to IS, Palmyra’s ancient site has remained intact but the militants destroyed a lion statue in the town dating back to the 2nd century. The statue, discovered in 1975, had stood at the gates of the town museum, and had been placed inside a metal box to protect it from damage. Mr. Hariri said his father-in-law had been a member of President Bashar al-Assad’s governing Baath Party since 1954. Mr. Hariri added that Mr. Asaad is survived by six sons and five daughters.
In early July, IS released a video showing the killing of some 20 captured government soldiers in Palmyra’s amphitheater. They were shot dead by young IS members, armed with pistols. Hundreds of people were seen watching the killings. Since falling to the Islamic State, Palmyra’s ancient site has remained intact, but the militants destroyed a lion statue in the town dating back to the second century. The statue, discovered in 1975, had stood at the gates of the town museum and had been placed inside a metal box to protect it.
Also Wednesday, an IS suicide bomber targeted a predominantly Kurdish town in northeastern Syria, killing at least 11 people, an activist group said. In early July, the Islamic State released a video showing the killing of about 20 captured government soldiers in Palmyra’s amphitheater. Hundreds of people were seen watching the killings.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosion happened outside a local Kurdish police station in the town of Qamishli. It also said more than 40 people were wounded in the blast. Syria’s state news agency SANA also reported the explosion, saying it killed 13 and wounded about 50. Also on Wednesday, an Islamic State suicide bomber targeted a predominantly Kurdish town in northeastern Syria, killing at least 11 people, an activist group said.
The Islamic State group has been fighting Kurdish fighters in Syria since last year and the extremists have carried out dozens of suicide attacks against the Kurds. The Kurdish fighters, aided by U.S.-led airstrikes, have also captured significant territory from IS in northern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosion happened outside a local Kurdish police station in the town of Qamishli. It also said that more than 40 people were wounded in the blast. SANA also reported the explosion, saying it killed 13 and wounded about 50.
The Islamic State has been fighting Kurdish fighters in Syria since last year, and the extremists have carried out dozens of suicide attacks against the Kurds. The Kurdish fighters, aided by United States-led airstrikes, have also captured significant territory from the Islamic State in northern Syria.