A summary of ISIS activity in Iraq has just been circulated. A link to the document can be found in the following email.
The ISIS activities that are related to libraries and other information services can be summarised as follows [with my explanatory commentary in brackets]:
- According to ISIS law, libraries should not exist and must be demolished.
- ISIS wants to diversify and expand its financial resources to include the lucrative trade of antiquities. [This could be assumed to include the sale of rare books and manuscripts.]
- Mosul museum, the second large museum in Iraq, has been occupied by ISIS and its staff cannot enter to check its valuable collections. [The Museum Library was established about 50 years ago, and has a substantial collection.]
- Churches and monasteries were either burned or, when occupied, ISIS stole the contents. [Many of the monasteries in northern Iraq are known to have retained collections of ancient manuscripts]
- Mosques and shrines were destroyed by explosions and bulldozers. [These may also have had collections of ancient manuscripts]
- Government buildings have been destroyed by ISIS. [It is not clear whether these include the provincial records and archives centre, but it could be assumed that some recent government records have been lost.]
- ISIS has taken over public libraries in Ninawa and Diyala provinces. [These must be assumed to be under threat of destruction.]
Professor Ian Johnson,
Chief Editor, IFLA/De Gruyter series: 'Global Studies in Libraries and Information'
Aberdeen,
Great Britain
Phone: +44 1224 740785
Mobile: +44 7719 859239
Skype: ian.m.johnson45
-----Original Message-----
From: Charles E. Jones [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 September 2014 12:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Iraqcrisis] IRAQ'S HERITAGE IS FACING A NEW WAVE OF DESTRUCTION
IRAQ'S HERITAGE IS FACING A NEW WAVE OF DESTRUCTION By Abdulameer al Hamdani Archaeologist Iraq Heritage Senior Fellow 8th September 2014 Iraq Heritage Report
Read it here:
http://tinyurl.com/q9k2uwj
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