Rethinking the cultural genocide : the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria

Abstract

Raphael Lemkin proposed the concept of Cultural Genocide in the context of World Wars, as a crime that attempts to destroy the identity of a certain people. With globalization, wars gained a new dynamic, characterized by the logic of labeling and eliminating the difference through identity politics - when the rise of power is done in the name of one specific group and detriment to another. The rise of Islamic State in 2014 seemed to follow the identity politics tendency, highlighted by the destruction of Cultural Heritage in Syria, drawing attention to the annihilation of the region's cultural identity. In this way, this work attempts to analyze international conventions and sentences from international court systems regarding the genocidal intent of destroying cultural heritage. It also aims to discuss the concept of Cultural Genocide and its importance of protecting the Syrian diverse culture. The conviction of Al-Mahdi by the International Criminal Court in 2016, for the crime of destruction of cultural heritage, may be, however, a determining factor for holding accountable ISIS leaders. Thus, the analysis of the term Cultural Genocide is essential in this context.