Deprive ISIL of its propaganda

ISIL’s sick propaganda machine thrives on our constant attention. We must say no

The famous Arch of Triumph (front) and a partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra in Syria. Joseph Eid / AFP

The ISIL attack on Palmyra’s Arch of Triumph is the third offensive on the ancient city since the militants took over in May. Previously, the group destroyed the shrine of Baal Shamin and the 2,000 year-old Temple of Bel, regarded as one of the greatest treasures of the region. Like the beheading videos that have flooded the internet, the extremist group succeeded in gaining the attention of the international media with their wanton destruction in Iraq and Syria. Now it is time to say, no more.

We have seen that ISIL propaganda is used as a powerful and effective recruitment tool. We know that the group aims to inspire fear and that terror, at its core, is an attempt to unbalance daily life. ISIL needs the oxygen of publicity to thrive and we must reserve the right to ignore their acts.

As we have argued before, cultural sites like Palmyra can be restored, but the lives of the innocent across Syria can never be returned. This is not to say that media shouldn’t report on the militants’ crimes. We can mark the act of cultural destruction, but should do no more.

Media coverage should not serve as an extension of ISIL’s propaganda and obediently release the group’s videos, images or screenshots. Perhaps we should focus on first-hand stories of people who escaped ISIL after witnessing their atrocities, especially those who were once part of the group. Every time ISIL beheads someone or destroys an ancient site, the world’s media follows the events feverishly, acting as a powerful incentive to the extremists to destroy the artefacts piece by piece. Let’s change this dynamic.

ISIL will continue to engage in ever more spectacular demonstrations of brutality and destruction as it loses its power. As if we were dealing with a misbehaving child, the more attention we give it, the more we will implicitly encourage the bad behaviour. Extremism thrives on attention. Let us collectively starve the militants of the attention they crave and ensure that we defeat them on the battlefield of Syria and Iraq.