UNITED NATIONS: The destruction of Palmyra’s anc­ient temple of Baalshamin, in Syria, has been termed a war crime by Unesco, the UN’s cultural agency.

Syrian officials and activists reported on Sunday that the militants of self-styled Islamic State (IS) had blown up the temple.

The United Nations Scien­tific and Cultural body (Un­ es­co) said in a statement it was “an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity”. IS took control of Pal­myra in May, sparking fears for the site, considered one of the ancient world’s most important cultural centres.

Also read: IS militants demolish ancient temple in Syria

Syria’s head of antiquities was quoted as saying the temple was blown up on Sunday, causing “much damage”.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that it happened a month ago.

The ancient city, which is a Unesco World Heritage site, is famed for its well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins, and the Baalshamin temple, built nearly 2,000 years ago, is one of the city’s best-known buildings. The Islamic State has destroyed many such cultural heritage sites in Iraq and Syria since it emerged in the region.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2015

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