NEW DELHI: The Aligarh Historians Society, one of India’s most respected academic clubs, has come out in protest against the killing of the renowned Syrian archaeologist Khaled al-Asaad by the self-styled Islamic State at Palmyra, an ancient Syrian city.

“The Aligarh Historians Society joins archaeologists and historians all over the world in denouncing as a most barbarous crime, the gruesome murder of the eminent Syrian archaeologist, Khaled al-Asaad, an expert on Palmyra, one of the great World Heritage sites,” a statement by the historians said.

“The Society hopes that the perpetrators of the crime, belonging to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria one day be brought to justice, along with those who have directed or colluded with them. Civilised people, irrespective of country or religion, must unite in their support for all political and military measures designed to achieve this end, especially those being made by the governments of Syria and Iraq.”

Signatories to the statement include historian Prof Irfan Habib, who is president of the Society, Prof I.A. Khan Prof Shireen Moosvi, Prof Ishrat Alam and Dr Rakesh Batbayal.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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