World Bulletin / News Desk 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has condemned the destruction of the ancient Iraqi city of Hatra by ISIL members.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, director general of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), made a joint statement on Saturday.

"UNESCO and ISESCO are fully mobilized to respond to this emergency and stand ready to assist the Iraqi authorities in any possible way," Bokova and Altwaijri said. "The destruction of Hatra marks a turning point in the appalling strategy of cultural cleansing underway in Iraq. This is a direct attack against the history of Islamic Arab cities and it confirms the role of destruction of heritage in the propaganda of extremists groups"

Hatra, a large fortified city under the influence of the Parthian Empire, was the capital of the first Arab k‎ingdom ‎and bears the roots of Islamic Arab cities.

The statement also said that cultural heritage has been the target of intentional destruction, with the aim of erasing the history of the country and thus undermining the peaceful coexistence of diverse communities.