Khaled al-Asaad

{{confuse|text=Khaled Al-Asad, the character of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Khaled al-Asaad

| native_name = {{nobold|خالد الأسعد}}

| image = Khaled al-Asaad 2012.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| caption = Al-Asaad in 2002

| birth_name = Khaled Mohamad al-Asaad

| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|1|1|df=yes}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/world/middleeast/isis-palmyra-syria-antiquities-scholar-beheaded.html|title=Syrian Expert Who Shielded Palmyra Antiquities Meets a Grisly Death at ISIS' Hands|first=Ben|last=Hubbard|date=19 August 2015|website=The New York Times|access-date=2 September 2017}}

| birth_place = Palmyra, First Syrian Republic{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-33991863|title=Profile: Khaled al-Asaad|date=2015-08-19|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-26|language=en-GB}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2015|8|18|1932|1|1|df=yes}}

| death_place = Palmyra, Ba'athist Syria

| occupation = Archaeologist

| title = Head of antiquities in Palmyra

| honours = *Order of Civil Merit of the Syrian Arab Republic (excellent class){{cite web|url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/presidential-activities/19452-president-al-assad-grants-archeologist-khaled-al-asaa-d-syrian-order-of-merit-of-excellent-degree |title=President Al-Assad Grants Archeologist Khaled al-Asaa'd Syrian Order of Merit of Excellent Degree |publisher=syriatimes.sy |date=2015-09-03 |access-date=2019-08-22}}

Ordre national du Mérite (France){{Cite book|url=https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Secretariat/2016/Memoire_Khaled_al_Asaad_18082016/Khaled_al_Asaad_Booklet_DGAM_2016.pdf|title=The martyr of Palmyra Khaled Al Asaad|publisher=International Council on Monuments and Sites|year=2016|page=13}}
Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland{{cite web|url=http://www.akhbrksa.com/mix/218638.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003173449/http://www.akhbrksa.com/mix/218638.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-10-03 |title=داعش يذبح أهم شخصية للآن ويعلقه على عمود بالطريق - منوعات |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{Interlanguage link|Order of Merit of the Republic of Tunisia|ar|وسام_الاستقلال_(تونس)|ru|Орден Независимости (Тунис)|it|Ordine dell'Indipendenza|nl|Orde van Onafhankelijkheid (Tunesië)|no|Uavhengighetsordenen (Tunisia)}}

| death_cause = Decapitation

| alma_mater = Damascus University

}}

Khaled Mohamad al-Asaad ({{langx|ar|خالد الأسعد}}; {{IPA|ar|ɐlʔæsʕæd}}; 1 January 1932 – 18 August 2015) was a Syrian archaeologist who headed the antiquities in the ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He held this position for over forty years.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-33984006 |title=Syrian archaeologist 'killed in Palmyra' by IS militants |access-date=19 August 2015 |work=BBC News |date=19 August 2015}} Al-Asaad was publicly beheaded by the Islamic State on 18 August 2015, at the age of 83.

Early life, education, and family

Al-Asaad was born in 1932 in Palmyra, where he spent most of his life.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/khaled-alasaad-authority-on-the-antiquities-of-the-syrian-city-of-palmyra-who-was-devoted-to-studying-and-protecting-its-treasures-10464467.html |title=Khaled al-Asaad: Authority on the antiquities of the Syrian city of Palmyra who was devoted to studying and protecting its treasures |work=The Independent |access-date=22 August 2015}} He held a diploma in history and was educated at Damascus University. Al-Asaad was the father of six sons and five daughters, one of whom was named Zenobia after the well-known queen.

Career

=Archaeologist=

During his career, al-Asaad excavated and restored ancient Palmyra. He became the principal custodian of the Palmyra site in 1963, a position he held for forty years.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/08/palmyra-isis-khalid-al-asaad-beheading-isis/402148/|title=ISIS Killed Khalid al-Assad for Refusing to Betray Palmyra |first=Joanna |last=Paraszczuk |magazine=The Atlantic |date=24 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015}} His expeditions focused on the late third-century ramparts of Palmyra{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11839626/Khaled-al-Asaad-curator-obituary.html |title=Khaled al-Asaad obituary |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 September 2015 |access-date=6 October 2015}} and worked with American, Polish, German, French, and Swiss archaeological missions. His achievement is the elevation of Palmyra to a World Heritage Site.{{Cite news |title=Khaled al-Asaad profile: the Howard Carter of Palmyra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/khaled-al-asaad-profile-syria-isis-howard-carter-palmyra-archaeology |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 August 2015 |access-date=19 August 2015 |first=Caroline |last=Davies}} He was also fluent in Aramaic and regularly translated texts until 2011.

From 1974 onward, Al-Asaad organised exhibitions of Palmyran antiques.{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/khaled-al-asaad-the-martyr-of-palmyra-46787 |title=Khaled al-Asaad, the martyr of Palmyra |publisher=The Conversation |first=Pierre |last=Leriche |date=September 2015 |access-date=6 October 2015}}

When he retired in 2003, his son Walid took over his work at Palmyra. They both were reportedly detained by the Islamic State in August 2015 – Walid survived.https://www.facebook.com/564867637010224/videos/1001939786865569 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33991863 |title=Profile: Khaled al-Asaad, Syria's 'Mr Palmyra' |date=19 August 2015| access-date=21 August 2015 |work=BBC News}}

=Politics=

It is believed that he joined the Syrian Socialist Ba'ath Party around 1954. However, it is unclear whether he was an active supporter of the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. According to The Economist, some have claimed he was a "staunch supporter" of Assad.{{cite news |title=Islamic State and antiquities: Nothing is sacred |url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21661824-jihadists-murder-man-who-tended-palmyras-art-decades-nothing-sacred |access-date=23 August 2015 |newspaper=The Economist |date=22 August 2015}}

Death

Image:Cippo Khaled Giusto.jpg

In May 2015, modern Palmyra and the adjacent ancient city came under the control of the Islamic State. Al-Asaad helped evacuate the city museum prior to the Islamic State's takeover, but was himself captured by the terrorist organisation. The Islamic State then tortured al-Asaad in an attempt to discover the location of the ancient artifacts that he helped hide.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-executes-palmyra-antiquities-chief-khaled-asaad-and-hangs-him-from-ruins-he-spent-a-lifetime-10461601.html |title=Isis beheads Palmyra scholar and hangs him from ruins he spent his life restoring |work=The Independent |access-date=26 August 2018 |language=en-GB}} He was murdered in Palmyra on 18 August 2015 at the age of eighty-three.{{cite journal |journal=Vigilo |last=Domingo |first=Plácido |author-link=Plácido Domingo |title=End the International Destruction of Cultural Heritage |date=December 2016 |publisher=Din l-Art Ħelwa: National Trust of Malta |pages=30–31 |issue=48 |issn=1026-132X}}

The New York Times reported:{{quote|After detaining him for weeks, the jihadists dragged him on Tuesday to a public square where a masked swordsman cut off his head in front of a crowd, Mr. Asaad's relatives said. His blood-soaked body was then suspended with red twine by its wrists from a traffic light, his head resting on the ground between his feet, his glasses still on, according to a photo distributed on social media by Islamic State supporters.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com./2015/08/20/world/middleeast/isis-palmyra-syria-antiquities-scholar-beheaded.html |title=Shielding Syrian Antiquities, to a Grisly Death at ISIS' Hands |last=Hubbard |first=Ben |date=19 August 2015 |access-date=21 August 2015 |work=The New York Times}}}}

Following al-Asaad's death, the Islamic State hanged a placard on his corpse listing his alleged "crimes": being an "apostate", representing Syria at "infidel conferences", serving as "the director of idolatry" in Palmyra, visiting "Heretic Iran", and communicating with "a brother in the Syrian security services".

His body was reportedly displayed in the new section of Palmyra (Tadmur) and then in the ancient section, the treasures of which the Islamic State had already demolished.{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/08/19/is-beheads-leading-syrian-antiquities-scholar-in-palmyra |title=Islamic State beheads Syrian antiquities scholar in ancient town of Palmyra |date=19 August 2015 |access-date=19 August 2015 |work=U.S. News & World Report |first1=Albert |last1=Aji |first2=Bassem |last2=Mroue |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-archaeology-idUKKCN0QN24I20150818 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206022116/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-archaeology-idUKKCN0QN24I20150818 |archive-date=6 February 2016 |title=Islamic State militants behead archaeologist in Palmyra – Syrian official |work=Reuters |date=18 August 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/palmyra-133.html |title=IS tötet früheren Chef-Archäologen von Palmyra |trans-title=IS kills former chief archaeologist of Palmyra |work=Tagesschau |date=19 August 2015 |language=de}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/18/isis-beheads-archaeologist-syria |title=Beheaded Syrian scholar refused to lead Isis to hidden Palmyra antiquities |date=19 August 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian}}

In February 2021, Syrian state sources reported the discovery of al-Asaad's body in the countryside 10 km east of Palmyra.{{Cite web |last=Ruaa-jazaeri |date=7 February 2021 |title=Three corpses found east of Palmyra, one believed to be for archeologist martyr al-Asa'ad |url=http://sana.sy/en/?p=221128 |access-date=8 February 2021 |website=Syrian Arab News Agency |language=en-US}}

Along with al-Asaad, Qassem Abdullah Yehya, the deputy director of the DGAM Laboratories, also protected the Palmyra site, and was murdered by the Islamic State while on duty on 12 August 2015. He was thirty-seven years old.{{cite web |url=http://www.opednews.com/articles/Two-more-EverySyrian-her-by-Franklin-Lamb-Ancient_Heritage-Protection_Heroes_Museums-150821-203.html |title=Article: Two more 'EverySyrian' heroes murdered while protecting our shared cultural heritage |work=OpEdNews |date=21 August 2015 |access-date=22 August 2015}}

=Reactions=

The Chief of Syrian Antiquities, Maamoun Abdulkarim, condemned al-Asaad's death, calling him "a scholar who gave such memorable services to the place Palmyra and to history". He called al-Asaad's killers a "bad omen on Palmyra".
Dario Franceschini, the Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, announced that the flags of all Italian museums would be flown at half-mast in honor of al-Asaad.{{cite web |url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/news/158701/ |title=Italy's museums honour archaeologist murdered by Isil |work=theartnewspaper.com |access-date=22 August 2015 |archive-date=22 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822114822/http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/news/158701/ |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/mondo/2015/08/20/ARmW9haF-franceschini_bandiere_italiani.shtml |title=Franceschini: "Bandiere a mezz'asta nei musei italiani in memoria di Khaled Asaad" |language=it |trans-title=Franceschini: "Flags at half-mast in Italian museums in memory of Khaled Asaad" |publisher=Il Secolo XIX |date=20 August 2015 |access-date=20 August 2015 |archive-date=25 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825073229/http://ilsecoloxix.it/p/mondo/2015/08/20/ARmW9haF-franceschini_bandiere_italiani.shtml |url-status=dead}}
UNESCO and its general director Irina Bokova condemned al-Asaad's murder, saying "They killed him because he would not betray his deep commitment to Palmyra. Here is where he dedicated his life."{{cite web |url=http://www.syriaonline.sy/?f=Details&catid=22&pageid=18020&g=1 |title=UNESCO condemns ISIS beheading of Palmyra archeologist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923171928/http://www.syriaonline.sy/?f=Details&catid=22&pageid=18020&g=1 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=20 August 2015 |df=dmy-all}}
The United Kingdom and France released statements condemning the murder and destruction at Palmyra.{{cite web |title=FCO Minister Tobias Ellwood condemns ISIL's destruction of historic temple in Syria |website=GOV.UK |date=24 August 2015 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fco-minister-tobias-ellwood-condemns-isils-destruction-of-historic-temple-in-syria |access-date=8 February 2021}}{{cite web | title=France condemns Daesh's murder of Syria antiquities scholar |website=France in the United Kingdom - La France au Royaume-Uni |date=19 August 2015 |url=https://uk.ambafrance.org/France-condemns-Daesh-s-murder-of-Syria-antiquities-scholar |access-date=8 February 2021 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208111716/https://uk.ambafrance.org/France-condemns-Daesh-s-murder-of-Syria-antiquities-scholar |url-status=dead}}
The [http://www.amu.ac.in/about3.jsp?did=8982 Aligarh Historians Society] said: "Civilized people, irrespective of country or religion, must unite in their support for all political and military measures designed to achieve this end, especially those being made by the governments of Syria and Iraq."{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/All-civilised-people-must-condemn-murder-of-al-Asaad-by-IS-Aligarh-Historians-Society/articleshow/48581821.cms |title=All civilised people must condemn murder of al-Asaad by IS: Aligarh Historians Society |work=The Times of India |date=21 August 2015 |access-date=22 August 2015}}
Persian-American poet Kaveh Akbar published the poem "Palmyra" in response to al-Asaad's death. The poem's dedication reads "after Khaled al-Asaad".{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/poetry/poet-remembers-the-man-who-fought-and-died-to-save-palmyra |title=Poet remembers the man who fought -- and died -- to save Palmyra |last=Segal |first=Corinne |date=21 December 2015 |work=PBS NewsHour |language=en-US |access-date=22 February 2018}}

Honours and medals

=Syrian honors=

Order of Civil Merit (2015) - Awarded posthumously{{cite news |title=Legislative decree on granting archeologist Khaled al-Asaad Syrian Order of Merit of excellent degree |work= Syrian Arab News Agency |url=http://sana.sy/en/?p=53551 |publisher=sana.sy |date=19 August 2015 |access-date=5 October 2015}}

=Foreign honors=

{{flagicon|Poland}} Poland – Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (1998){{cite news |title=داعش يذبح أهم شخصية للآن ويعلقه على عمود بالطريق – منوعات |url=http://www.akhbrksa.com/mix/218638.html|publisher=akhbrksa.com |date=19 August 2015 |access-date=20 August 2015 |language=ar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003173449/http://www.akhbrksa.com/mix/218638.html |archive-date=3 October 2015 |df=dmy-all}}

{{flagicon|Italy}} Italy – On 17 October 2015, the President of Italy inaugurated the rehabilitated {{ill|Arsenali della Repubblica|it|vertical-align=sup}} in Pisa which was renamed after al-Asaad.{{cite news |title=Mattarella all'inaugurazione degli Arsenali "Pisa importante per il Paese" |trans-title=Mattarella at the inauguration of the Arsenals "Pisa important for the country" |url=http://www.pisatoday.it/cronaca/mattarella-inaugurazione-arsenali-repubblicani-pisa.html |publisher=Pisatoday |date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |language=it}}

=Film=

A 2019 film titled Dam al Nakhl (Blood of the Palm Trees) portrays al-Asaad's brave resistance against the Islamic State.{{cite news|title=Anzour puts final touches to his film "The Blood of Palm"|url=http://sana.sy/en/?p=166345|publisher=Sana|date=27 May 2019|access-date=12 September 2020|language=en}}

Selected publications

{{cite book|first1=Khaled|last1=Asaad|title=Nouvelles découvertes archéologiques en Syrie|trans-title=New archaeological discoveries in Syria|language=fr|publisher=Direction générale des antiquités et des musées|location=Damascus|oclc=602249622|year=1980}}; 2nd edition 1990.
{{cite book|first1=Khaled|last1=Asaad|first2=Adnan|last2=Bounni|title= Palmyra. Geschichte, Denkmäler, Museum|language=de|publisher=Direction générale des antiquités et des musées|location=Damascus|year=1984}}
{{cite book|first1=Michael|last1=Gawlikowski|first2=Khaled|last2=Asaad|title=Palmyra and the Aramaeans|location=Oxford|publisher=The ARAM Society for Syro-Mesopotamian Studies|series=ARAM periodical|volume=7|year=1995|oclc=68075497}}
{{Cite journal|title=Restoration Work at Palmyra|last=Asaad|first=Khaled|date=1995|journal=ARAM Periodical|doi=10.2143/ARAM.7.1.2002213|issue=1|volume=7|pages=9–17|oclc=4632456923}}
Asaad, Khaled; Yon, Jean-Baptiste (2001), Inscriptions de Palmyre. Promenades épigraphiques dans la ville antique de Palmyre (= Guides archéologiques de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie du Proche-Orient Bd. 3). Institut Français d'Archéologie du Proche-Orient, Beirut 2001; {{ISBN|2-912738-12-1}}.
Asaad, Khaled; Schmidt-Colinet, Andreas (eds) (2013), Palmyras Reichtum durch weltweiten Handel. Archäologische Untersuchungen im Bereich der hellenistischen Stadt. 2 vols. Holzhausen, Vienna 2013; {{ISBN|978-3-902868-63-3}}, {{ISBN|978-3-902868-64-0}}.