According to reports from Syria, the group known as the "Islamic State," which recently beheaded a famous archaeologist in the ancient region of Palmyra, has also mutilated his body. Khaled al-Asaad, 82, had been responsible for the protection of Palmyra's archaeological sites for over 50 years. The self-proclaimed Islamic State forces beheaded him on Tuesday, August 17, and hung his body from the columns in the main square of the city. However, the matter did not end there. Now, AFP reports, quoting Mohammad al-Asaad, one of the sons of this famous and veteran archaeologist, that the people of Palmyra told him that his father's body was dismembered by ISIS forces. He added that Khaled al-Asaad, despite the threats from the self-proclaimed Islamic State forces, refused to leave the ancient city. Mamoun Abdulkarim, head of Syria's cultural heritage department, also made similar statements, saying that the archaeologist's body was "mutilated." AFP quoted Omar al-Asaad, another son of Mr. Asaad, stating that he had tried to hide in Palmyra itself. Nevertheless, he and another son, who was the then head of Palmyra's cultural heritage, were arrested and interrogated about the location of hidden gold and archaeological artifacts, which they were asked to reveal to the Islamic State forces. They were released a week later, but Khaled al-Asaad was arrested again. The Asaad family themselves fled to a part of Homs controlled by government forces during the capture of Palmyra and then went to Damascus. They expressed their shock at Mr. Asaad's killing. A son of Mr. Asaad quoted his father as saying, "He always said he would die standing, like the palms of Palmyra." The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned two months ago that the group known as the Islamic State was looting archaeological sites in Iraq and Syria on a large scale to fund its operations. Palmyra, now under the control of this extremist group, is an ancient city in Homs province, with ruins dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. This city was once a crossroads of various cultures.
Islamic State Dismembers Body of Syrian Archaeologist
The Islamic State has dismembered the body of Khaled al-Asaad, an 82-year-old archaeologist who was beheaded for protecting the archaeological sites of Palmyra. His family has expressed shock at his death, and UNESCO has warned about the extensive looting of cultural heritage by ISIS in the region. This incident highlights the ongoing violence and cultural destruction in Syria.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Islamic State beheaded and mutilated Syrian archaeologist Khaled al-Asaad in Palmyra.
- Islamic State execute Khaled al-Asaad
- Islamic State mutilate Khaled al-Asaad
- Islamic State arrest Omar al-Asaad, another son
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The brutal execution of Khaled al-Asaad underscores the violent tactics of the Islamic State.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%