Why the entire world should care about ISIS' destruction of a Syrian temple

The impact of Syrian temple demolition

When ISIS destroyed the Temple of Baalshamin, also referred to as the Temple of Bel, they crumbled more than just pillars and rooms, they ravaged a piece of religious and cultural history loved by not only Syrians, but by the world.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - CNN Philippines explains why ISIS' destruction of the Temple of Bel is relevant and how it affects the past, present and future.

ISIS is on a mission to replace Iraq and Syrian history with its own. Chairmen of the department of Classics at Cornell University Sturt W. Manning wrote, "The West's response should be to remember - and to provide educational resources to keep the rich and plural histories of Syria and Iraq alive and available, especially to those presently trapped under ISIS' enforced umbrella of ignorance."

Despite ISIS-spread rumors, the Temple was a symbol of religious tolerance, Erin Thompson -professor of art crime at John Jay College- reports. She said the temple was dedicated in 32 A.D., "when Jesus may have still been walking the earth. It was used as a Christian church ... and then as a mosque until the 1920s ... ISIS seeks to destroy diversity and enforce narrow uniformity. Evidence of a tolerant, diverse past is anathema."

The video released of the destroyed sacred sites encouraged recruitment for more ISIS members while simultaneously showcasing their strength. Thompson said, "They are using, essentially, the media to convey to potential recruits this idea that the West is powerless to defend against ISIS' destruction of things that are so important to us."

Syrians are already the victims of ISIS, however the destruction has compounded the effects of a 4-year-old civil war by removing a source of economic security.

Thompson comments on this, saying the temple was a popular tourist attraction, leading to income for the community. "It is going to find it is so much harder to recover from the conflict without this source of income," she added.

Terrorists like to compete with each other. They want their actions to be seen as bigger and badder than any other form of terrorism, which leads to an increase in brutality.

Syrian antiquities chief maamoun Abdulkarim reports, "They said they would destroy the statues, but not the structures themselves inside Palmyra. They lied ... We need (the) international community to help us, because this battle is not just for the Syrian people. It is also (an) international battle. It is a cultural battle."

The valuable antiquities ISIS has stolen have just become a new source of income. Manning wrote about the relics, saying they will "soon to be on sale on the black market ... Looted antiquities provide key funds to ISIS."

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