VOA常速英语20116--伊斯兰国以产业化规模抢掠文物

Experts: IS Looting Antiquities¹ on Industrial Scale 伊斯兰国以产业化规模抢掠文物

Experts say the Islamic State is looting and selling cultural antiquities from Iraq and Syria on an industrial scale.  The destruction and sale of these treasures is not only condoned² but has been institutionalized within the Islamic State itself.  And artifacts are beginning to show up on antiquities markets around the world.

专家说，“伊斯兰国”正大规模抢夺和变卖伊拉克及叙利亚境内的历史文物。“伊斯兰国”不只纵容这种具有破坏性的宝物变卖行为，还逐步发展制度化。一些历史文物已开始出现在世界各地的的古董市场上。

In May 2015, Islamic State fighters seized the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra – a UNESCO world heritage site north of Damascus known for its Greek, Roman, and Persian ruins and archaeological treasures.

2015年5月，“伊斯兰国”武装分子攻下了叙利亚古城巴尔米拉。巴尔米拉位于大马士革北方，以希腊、罗马和波斯历史遗址和考古珍品闻名，并被列为联合国教科文组织世界遗产之一。

Many feared they would destroy the priceless remains³.

许多人担心，“伊斯兰国”会将这些仅存的无价珍宝摧毁。

When Syrian forces recaptured the city last month, they found a few of the famed monuments were destroyed but many of the ancient ruins are still intact - though  IS was said to have looted ancient graves around the city.

当叙利亚军队上个月重新夺回巴尔米拉时，他们发现几个著名的历史纪念物已经遭到破坏，但许多古遗址仍完整保存，尽管之前有传闻说“伊斯兰国”曾大肆掠夺了当地多处古墓。

In this undated photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the site of the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria.

约翰·霍普金斯大学教授丹尼尔·瑟维尔说：“他们会说他们是在保卫真正的伊斯兰。他们不在意默罕默德之前的历史，他们也不太在意在那之后的历史真实性。”

Experts say one of the reasons for the destruction has to do with the extremist group's rigid⁴ interpretation⁵ of history.

专家说，极端分子进行破坏的原因之一和他们严格的历史解释有关。

“They would say they are restoring the true Islam.  They are unconcerned with history before Mohammed and they are not too much concerned with accurate history after that," said Professor Daniel Serwer, who is with Johns Hopkins University.

The Islamic State’s interest in the site is far more than religious, says Deborah Lehr, Chairwoman of The Antiquities Coalition⁶ in Washington.

黛博拉·雷尔是华盛顿古物联盟的主席，她说，“伊斯兰国”对这个城市的兴趣不是只有出自于宗教因素。

“They have recognized that there is value in the destruction of culture – in terms of intimidation⁷ of local populations and that there is value in the looting of it and then the sale for the raising of funds for their own cause," said Lehr.

她说：“他们发现摧毁文化是有其价值和意义的，能恐吓当地居民，抢夺来的文物还能变卖换取利润，为他们的组织筹得资金。”

Lehr says IS also understands the global propaganda value of destroying a priceless cultural heritage - such as the pillaging⁸ of the Mosul Museum in Iraq - making front page news around the world.

雷尔说，“伊斯兰国”也了解到摧毁无价历史遗迹还能为他们制造全球性的宣传广告，她以“伊斯兰国”洗劫伊拉克摩苏尔博物馆而登上世界新闻为例。

“The Mosul Museum under attack and the video that they posted on YouTube has gotten more attention than any other single event," she said.

她说：“摩苏尔博物馆遭到攻击的录像被登到YouTube时，比任何其他事情都吸引所有人的目光。”

There's also a monetary⁹ motive¹⁰.  The Islamic State has created a ministry¹¹ of antiquities to “industrialize” the looting and sell the treasures.

除此之外，同时还有敛财动机在内。“伊斯兰国”建立了类似“古物部”的部门来进行产业化规模的宝物掠夺和变卖。

“It is going and finding treasure and encouraging people to dig," Lehr said. "And what is unfortunate is that many of these people are not trained archeologists so that we not only lose the treasure, but we lose the whole context in which these are found."

雷尔说：“他们现在正持续寻找历史珍品，并鼓励人们积极开挖。不幸的是，大多数的人都不是经过专业训练的考古学者，所以我们不只失去许多宝贵的历史古物，还失去了那些被找到的古物所象征的整个意涵。”

Under international law, destroying cultural antiquities is a war crime.  And authorities hope one day they will be able to prosecute¹² Islamic State members for their crimes.

根据国际法，摧毁文化古迹为战争罪行。有关当局希望有朝一日能就“伊斯兰国”成员所犯下的罪行对他们进行起诉。

1 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

2 condoned   

v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Terrorism can never be condoned. 决不能容忍恐怖主义。
• They condoned his sins because he repented. 由于他的悔悟，他们宽恕了他的罪。 来自辞典例句

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

5 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

8 pillaging   

v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The rebels went looting and pillaging. 叛乱者趁火打劫，掠夺财物。
• Soldiers went on a rampage, pillaging stores and shooting. 士兵们横冲直撞，洗劫商店并且开枪射击。 来自辞典例句

9 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

10 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

11 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

12 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？