Layers of religious and political iconoclasm under the Islamic State: symbolic sectarianism and pre-monotheistic iconoclasm

Abstract

This article examines the heritage destruction undertaken by the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. To date, their iconoclasm has been mostly characterised either as acts of wanton barbarism devoid of religious or political justification, or as a cynical performance designed as a mass media spectacle. Drawing on a systematic analysis of two key IS propaganda outlets – their on-line magazine, Dabiq, and the various slick films released by Al-Hayat – this article argues that the heritage destruction perpetrated by the IS are not only situated within a carefully articulated theological framework and key to the creation of a new and ideologically pure ‘Islamic State’, but that they are also constituted by several complex layers of religious and political iconoclasm. To demonstrate, this article documents the iconoclasm undertaken by the IS along two key axes: Symbolic Sectarianism (Shia and Sufi mosques and shrines); and Pre-Monotheistic Iconoclasm (ancient polytheistic sites). Attacks on key sites within these categories, such as the Sayyida Zaynab shrine in Damascus or the Mosul Museum, not only adhere to their religious and political framework but also serve broader geo-political agendas and are attacked as proxy targets for their physical and ideological opponents.

Keywords:

• Islamic State
• iconoclasm
• Iraq
• Syria
• heritage destruction

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledges the funding for this research from both the Australian Department of Defence and the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE120100315). The broader research project is entitled ‘Measuring Cultural Property Destruction in Iraq and Syria’. The authors also acknowledges the hard work and enthusiasm of our colleague Taghreed Jamal Al-Deen who helped collate and translate some of the materials analysed in this article. We are also grateful for the support of the Alfred Deakin Institute for Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation at Deakin University Australia, and acknowledge the insightful comments and suggestions of the three anonymous reviewers and the editor of this journal.

Notes

1. It should be noted here that a handful of extended media articles documenting the heritage destruction wrought by the IS did provide nuanced insights and substantive depth. This includes detailed discussions of topics such as the propaganda potential of iconoclasm in the age of social media (Felch and Varoutsikos 2016), challenges to preserving heritage in times of conflict (Foyle 2015) and the extent to which such heritage destruction can be considered ethnic cleansing or genocide (Ghorashi 2015).

2. Genesis Rabba is an extended commentary on Genesis and the early life of Abraham.

3. The Hadith are a body of texts which describe the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad as recorded by his companions and contemporaries.

4. Not to be confused with the shrine of the same name in Damascus.

5. The Sunnah are a body of texts which are broader than the Hadith and include the Prophet Muhammad’s sayings, deeds, teachings and disapprovals – as well as those of his companions and other seminal religious figures.