Governing the souls and community: why do Islamists destroy world heritage sites?

Islamist groups' destruction of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Bamiyan, Timbuktu, and Palmyra, is not merely symbolic but part of a broader political strategy to govern territory and reshape communities. This study reveals that these acts serve a dual purpose: they signal defiance to the international community while simultaneously reinforcing control over cultural heritage economies. By analyzing Ansar Dine's destruction in Timbuktu (2012) and Islamic State's attacks in Syria and Iraq, the research demonstrates how such actions align with a political project aimed at establishing a new social order. The findings underscore the need for international justice scholarship and policy to seriously engage with perpetrators' justifications, not to condone their crimes but to develop more effective strategies for protecting or rebuilding heritage during conflicts.

Ba, O. (2020). Governing the souls and community: why do Islamists destroy world heritage sites? Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 35(1), 73–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/09557571.2020.1784094