Violation of cultural heritage by Islamic State in the period 2014 -2016

This paper is a case study on the Islamic state of the devastation of cultural heritage of Syria and Iraq. Although the time period considered for the artistic property demolition examples spans from 2014 to 2016, the brief history of the organisation and outline of the conflict is also described. Additionally, international response and cooperation in terms of fighting with the problem is presented. Dissertation seeks to demonstrate the motives behind the destruction of cultural property of the area occupied by the organisation. Titled as the cradle of civilisation, Mesopotamian region is a home to relicts of great powers such as the Sumerians, Assyrians and Hittites. Broad description of the demolished sites and analysis of the aims of the terroristic organisations officials and their benefit from the illegal trade artefacts are an inseparable part of the thesis. Apart from that, paper describes international legal framework on the means of cultural heritage protection. Legislation is divided into three subgroups of general norms, laws related to times of armed conflict and documents on the illicit transit of artistic property.