Iraq and Syria Attempt To Record And Save Art Before It Falls To ISIS

In the areas of Iraq and Syria controlled by the Islamic State, residents are recording on cellphones the damage done to antiquities by the extremist group ISIS.

At Baghdad’s recently reopened National Museum of Iraq, new iron bars protect galleries of ancient artifacts from the worst-case scenario.

These are just a couple of examples of the continuing efforts to guard the treasures of Iraq and Syria, two countries rich with artifacts created in the world’s earliest civilizations, according to The New York Times.

Yet only so much can be done under fire, and time is running out as the Islamic State moves forward with the systematic looting and destruction of antiquities.

Last week, officials said, the group ISIS (aka ISIL, Daesh) demolished parts of two of northern Iraq’s’s most prized ancient cities, Nimrud and Hatra, according to the New York Times.

Sunday, residents said militants destroyed parts of Dur Sharrukin, a 2,800-year-old Assyrian site near the village of Khorsabad.

Islamic State militants have called ancient art idolatry to be destroyed.  However, they also steal art and antiquities to sell for money.

Officials and experts who track the thefts through local informants and satellite imagery, according to the New York Times.

More here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/09/world/middleeast/race-in-iraq-and-syria-to-record-and-shield-art-falling-to-isis.html

Odd: Woman Arrested For Supposedly Damaging Satanic Holiday Display

Satanic Temple supporters have restored their holiday display at the Florida state capitol, a day after it was supposedly vandalized.

The display, which depicted an angel suspended over a pit of flames with the message, “Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple,” was supposedly knocked to the ground by Susan Hemeryck, who told the AP that she showed up to the capitol in a T-shirt that read “Catholic Warrior” to “take a stand against Satan” and remove the display.

Surveillance footage shows that she removed the display and attempted to leave with it. Police seem to catch her and bring back the display, when they somehow drop it. The woman was arrested.

AP video.

NYPD Cop Steals Money From Man, Supposedly Pepper Sprays Others

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office is investigating allegations that an NYPD cop wrongfully removed more than $1,000 from a man during a stop-and-frisk then pepper sprayed two people he did not arrest.  Lamard Joye is claiming an officer in Coney Island stole his money.