Today, during the plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the destruction of cultural sites perpetrated by ISIS/Da'esh.
The resolution asks to extend the international law category of 'crimes against humanity', so that it encompasses acts which wilfully damage or destroy the cultural heritage of mankind on a large scale. Additionally, strong actions to disrupt the illegal trade of cultural goods should be taken, in collaboration with UNESCO, UN Agencies, ICOM (International Council of Museums), its Blue Shields initiative and other international agencies, including Europol and Interpol.
Chair of the committee on culture and education and Italian S&D MEP, Silvia Costa, stated:
"What is being perpetrated by the ISIS/Da'esh to cultural and archaeological sites in Syria and Iraq is a "cultural cleansing" and a source of financing for the organisation. It amounts to an act of terror which Europe cannot stand idly by and watch without acting.
"It is not just about the effects of war. This is a planned action of "cultural cleansing", designed to destroy archaeological sites, cultural and religious symbols and the heritage of the people living in these regions, and indeed the whole world. In addition to this, artistic and archaeological relics are being exploited as "improper weapons", as a source of financing, through their illegal trade, to fund the activities of groups related to the ISIS/Da'esh.
"The EP also asks the Commission and the member states to develop awareness-raising campaigns in order to discourage the purchase and sale of cultural goods coming from illicit trade from war-torn regions, and it supports UNESCO’s #Unite4Heritage campaign, which aims to mobilise global support for the protection of cultural heritage, using the power of social networks."
