Islamic State Beheads Syrian Antiquities Scholar in Palmyra

ISIS beheads well-known antiquities scholar Khaled al-Assad in Palmyra; hangs body from Roman columns.

Tourists walk through the historical city of Palmyra (Photo: Reuters)

The Islamic State militants’ latest victim is 81-year-old Khaled al-Assad, one of Syria’s most well-known antiquities scholars. Syrian state media confirmed that Al-Assad was beheaded, and his body hung from one of Palmyra’s Roman columns.

Syrian state news agency SANA and British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the IS, which has never lost the opportunity to make a public display of their atrocities, chose a square outside the town’s museum for the beheading, after holding him for about a month. IS overran Palmyra in May, inciting fear that their next target would be the millennia old Roman-era city at the edge of the town, one of the Middle East’s most breathtaking ruins. The Observatory said that dozens of people had gathered to witness the murder.

Considered a pioneer in 20th century Syrian archaeology, Al-Assad was held by IS while they tried to extract information of the whereabouts of the town’s treasures. The treasures had been hidden to save them from the militants. Al-Assad was familiar with Palmyra’s archaeological site; having been in charge of the site for four decades, until he retired.

So far, the site has remained intact, but a second century lion statue has fallen prey to the IS. Earlier this year, IS shot and killed 20 captured government soldiers in Palmyra’s amphitheatre. The massacre was well attended; hundreds of people were seen in attendance.