Scene of execution at Palmyra, IS (IS video)

Islamic State has chosen the amphitheatre in the ancient city of Palmyra, in the Syrian desert for its latest execution video. UNESCO describes the site as,

“an oasis in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus, Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences.”

Jihadists have allegedly been destroying artifacts, statues from the World Heritage Site including the 2,000 year old Lion of al-Lat, see Links section.

The 10 minute video features shots reminiscent of scenes from a Hollywood movie showing crowds beying in a Roman amphitheatre awaiting sacrifices, except this is not reenactment the killing is real.

The video features the now familiar nasheeds which carry the viewer along to the inevitable slaughter. The footage shows 25 regime soldiers that IS claim were captured in Homs being led into the amphitheatre. The men who shows signs of bruising and bleeding are made to kneel on a stage in front of the black IS flag. Young executioners (Caliphate Cubs) that appear to be in their early teenage years shoot dead the soldiers that are then seen in a series of close- up shots.

IS are later seen blowing up an Assad regime prison.

Stills from IS Palmyra execution video

Retaliation against IS?

Jaysh Al-Islam escorting prisoners to their executions (Jaysh Al-Islam video still)

Islamic State have also allegedly been on the receiving end of “violence via video” as shown in a recent video featuring Jaysh Al-Islam ‘Army of Islam’ dressed in orange jumpsuits that executes 13 members they claim are Islamic State. However as Pieter Naninnga points out in tweets on 2nd July some dispute the claims…

Several claims that men killed in Jaysh al-Islam video weren’t IS fighters, but opponents Alloush from other groups

Links

“Isis militants destroy 2,000-year-old statue of lion at Palmyra”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/02/isis-militants-destroy-palmyra-stone-lion-al-lat

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.