The Islamic State continues its reign of terror. Murder, genocide, rape, and terrorism are just a few crimes that have been perpetrated by this state. Beyond a doubt evil and reprehensible, its victims are not just thousands of innocent civilians, but humanity’s inheritance as well. They are responsible for the wanton destruction of cultural and religious heritage.

Treasures of the past are being lost, destroyed, and desecrated. The objects of civilization’s beginnings up to modern day religious structures are being targeted by the militant state. Dozens of important sites have been hit by this catastrophe such as the palace in Nimrud, an ancient Assyrian city, Dair Mar Elia, one of the oldest monasteries in Iraq, an Assyrian gateway in Ar-Raqquah, and so many more. Nowhere in the Islamic State’s territory are these relics safe.

Most recently, the destruction of the palace at Nimrud became apparent as the area was liberated from the Islamic State. The ornamentations inside the palace were either destroyed or stolen, a ziggurat (a terraced pyramid) dating back thousands of years was reduced to rubble, and statues built by the ancient Assyrians were demolished by the fighters. Unfortunately, this has become a common scene.

In the contested city of Mosul, where there is now a fierce battle between the Islamic State and Iraqi forces, the Islamic State destroyed close to thirty places of cultural heritage during their initial takeover and occupation. The city was taken in the middle months of 2014 by ISIS and during that time the militants posted videos of themselves ecstatically destroying these buildings, statues, and other objects. Using sledgehammers and bulldozers, they wrecked artwork and architecture that in some places was close to 3,000 years old. They do it because these jihadists and extremists view the sites as idolatry and an offense to their religion. Often times, if the items are not destroyed, they are looted and sold off to the highest bidder to pay for their war machine. It is truly a sad state.

This is a serious crime. In essence, this is cultural cleansing on par with the attempt of the Nazis to systematically steal and hoard vast collections of great art in the 1930s and 1940s. This devastation is not permissible and those responsible should face justice. They are killing not just the Middle East’s legacy, but also the very origins and roots of human civilization itself. With each lost object we lose a little bit of ourselves.