Targeting the cultural memory of Iraq - looting and destruction of antiquities as a model -

Abstract

During the past years, Iraq witnessed a series of wars and crises that caused political, economic and social repercussions on the state and the people. Among these repercussions were the repercussions of the military operations represented by the first and second Gulf Wars and the occupation of Iraqi lands by the US and allied forces, the overthrow of the former regime, the fall of many official institutions and the loss of Security control over large parts and areas of Iraqi lands, and the gangs of terrorism and crime exploited these circumstances at different stages in the modern history of Iraq and committed a series of violations and crimes against the Iraqi people and the public property of the Iraqi state, including archaeological sites and cultural and religious cities represented by temples, shrines and churches dating back to ancient times Which has always formed a civilized memory of Iraq and its people that dazzled historians and researchers in the field of civilization and antiquities. This research comes to track a black era that Iraq went through, during which a lot of this property was lost due to acts of vandalism, theft and arson committed by criminal gangs, some of which belong to extremist organizations and are supported by external parties. Collusion from internal parties that believed in extremist ideology and moved.