Insha'llah Khaled

People who count themselves as members of the clan of civilization should acknowledge one Khaled al As'ad. As'ad was a Syrian professor and scholar and the longtime curator of the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. Palmyra is one of the richest founts of antiquities in the world and As'ad guided the research there for over fifty years. It is a city that dates back to the neolithic and sits on a historical trade route that once linked Persia, India and China with the Roman Empire.

The group known as daesh or the Islamic State cut Mr. As'ad's bespectacled 82 year old head off this Tuesday for refusing to divulge where his museum workers had spirited away the ancient national treasures.

They left his body in the street and painted the words heretic on his corpse.

He refused to pledge allegiance to ISIS and he also refused, under interrogation and the penalty of death, to reveal the location of archaeological treasures and two chests of gold the terrorists thought were in the city. They have been on a campaign destroying historical sites and selling priceless artifacts to finance their campaign of terror.

As'ad loved his work so much that he made a decision that ultimately literally cost him his head. I applaud you Khaled and salute your honor and memory. You loved your work and never gave it up to the barbarians.