Clear history and wealth of a region, cradle of our civilization: that's what the jihadists are struggling now. After human beings are destroying the culture, art and intelligence.
The Museum of Mosul, destroyed by members of the Islamic State, is the second largest in Iraq.
Founded in the 13th century BCE, the city of Nimrud, was bulldozed.
Created there is more than 2,000 years, Hatra, particularly well-preserved walled city, is one of four Iraqi sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. It is the latest attack.
In all, nine valuable sites that were destroyed, to the despair of Unesco which denounces war crimes.
If nothing is done to stop the Islamic state, the next target could be the museum of Baghdad.
Young people must stand up against this destruction
From Beirut, Axel Plathe, Head of UNESCO Office for Iraq has answered our questions.
Euronews: Your organization has described what happened as "cultural cleansing" and "war crimes". Can you do something to make it stop?
Axel Plathe: "We can not send armies to protect the sites. UNESCO has no mandate to send armies. However, we can work with our partners, particularly the Iraqi government to see if we can limit the damage and also prevent other attacks against cultural heritage sites. But now it is very difficult for us to intervene on the ground. The UN currently has no staff in this area that is controlled by terrorist groups. "
Euronews: Unesco Management has appealed to political and religious leaders in the region, the Security Council of the UN, the International Criminal Court. What measures should be taken according to you?
Axel Plathe: "Regarding Criminal Court, it is a call to take legal action against such actions as war crimes, because that is what they are. And our CEO also requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN to rally the international community to the cause of protecting this cultural heritage. We also called on religious leaders and political leaders to say that such crimes have no political or religious justification. And finally what we need to do is send us young people and tell them you have to prepare yourself against this destruction, it is your future in a way that is being destroyed. "
Euronews: "In the end, people-they are not powerless against the barbarity of the Islamic State group?"
Axel Plathe, "I do not think that we are helpless in the medium and long term. I believe that with strong support from the international community, members of the Security Council of the UN, the academic community - both the Iraqi community that the international community - we can create soft power that responds adequately to medium or long term. "
Euronews: "How many other sites are in immediate danger and what is actually at stake?
Axel Plathe: "Sites that are in these areas in the thousands. We are concerned of course especially for the most iconic sites. We were shocked by the aggression against Hatra, part of world heritage. This is the equivalent of an attack against the pyramids in Egypt or against the place of birth of Buddha in Lumbini in Nepal. So it's really a significant acceleration of the destruction (World Heritage). Ashur is in the list of world heritage, the archaeological city of Samarra is on the World Heritage List. These are very important sites in Iraq. "
JavaScript is required to watch this video
