A new story on life after the take over by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Mosul reveals the bizarre existence for academics at places like University of Mosul. ISIS has outlawed lessons on democracy and political thought in favor of concentrations on religious indoctrination and Sharia law. Not too surprising, ISIS also banned hotel management and tourism and archaeology.
Every aspect of life has been reordered in line with Islamic principles from vaccination schedules to fishing methods to rent disputes.
Given the continuing campaign of ISIS to destroy ancient sites and artifacts in the region, the archaeology faculty must have known that they were at the greatest risk in the ISIS move to bring the university in line with its Islamic values. Likewise, tourism is not a priority for ISIS, which continues to pay top dollar to take Westerners to ransom or behead as part of its blood-soaked culture.
One concession to the college students: foosball will be tolerated . . . so long as there is no gambling, no cursing or resentment and that the figurines have no heads. It is the same game of course but the headless figurines look like the other Western individuals who have the misfortune of encountering ISIS.