The ornate ceiling of the Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan, Iran. It’s a UNESCO Heritage site that began construction in the 1500s and has been damaged by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. (Matt Biddulph)

War in Iran: Why destroying cultural heritage is such a foolish strategic move in any conflict

Since the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran began, damage to cultural heritage has raised legal concerns—and may undermine the campaign’s strategic aims.
A camper gets hauled away by authorities in Ottawa in front of a Bank of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

How authorities are targeting the ‘freedom convoy’ money via the Emergencies Act

The backbone of the so-called freedom convoy’s activities was its access to a steady flow of financing from donors both domestic and foreign. The Emergencies Act put a stop to that.
Tourists visit Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, northeast of the Iranian city of Shiraz. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

Iran‑U.S. crisis reminds us how culture matters in war time

When the loss of this heritage is used as a weapon of war, it represents a loss for the country affected as well as for humanity. It targets the memories, history and identity of a people.

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