Why ISIS wants to erase Palmyra's history

RESEARCH

By | Sturt Manning , CNN

Sturt Manning, professor of Classics, writes in this piece for CNN about efforts to erase the rich history of Palmyra.

"The Palmyra oasis is a strategic location, unfortunately almost awaiting attention and thus disaster," Manning writes. "Usually ISIS justifies destruction by claiming representative art to be idolatrous and pre-Islamic religious objects or structures sacrilegious. It seeks to destroy diversity and enforce narrow uniformity. Evidence of a tolerant, diverse past is anathema. Prosaically, looted antiquities provide key funds to ISIS."

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