UN member-states on Thursday declared that the destruction by jihadists of Iraqi cultural sites may amount to war crimes and agreed to take steps to curb the trade of stolen ancient artifacts. The General Assembly adopted a resolution on saving Iraq’s cultural sites as international concern mounted over the fate of the Syrian archeological site of Palmyra captured by Islamic State fighters a week ago. Videos of IS combatants destroying artifacts at the Mosul museum and smashing sledgehammers into ancient walls at Hatra and Nimrud sparked an outcry and calls to prevent the ‘cultural cleansing’ of the Middle East. The non-binding resolution drafted by Germany and Iraq condemns the ‘barbaric’ destruction and looting of heritage sites and calls for the prosecution of perpetrators of cultural vandalism. The measure urges states to ensure that art collectors, auction houses,

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