VOA常速英语2015--伊斯兰国破坏文物引发众怒

Islamic State Sets No Limits to Destruction 伊斯兰国破坏文物引发众怒

WASHINGTON—

There seems to be no limit to the atrocities¹ committed by radical² Islamists in their intent to create a world designed according to their own interpretation³ of Islam.  As Islamic State militants⁴ continue on their destructive path, experts say they are ready to destroy anyone or anything that does not fit into their vision.

Islamic State released a video on Thursday purportedly⁵ showing militants destroying ancient artifacts in Iraq's northern city of Mosul. Some works were more than 2,000 years old and their value was incalculable.

伊斯兰国在周四公布了一段激进分子在伊拉克北方城市摩苏尔破坏古代艺术品的视频。其中一些已经有2000年以上历史且价值不可估量。

One of the men shown in the five-minute video says statues were destroyed because they were, as he said, religious idols⁶ of the Assyrians and the Arcadians, the ancient peoples that did not believe in one God. He says the Prophet Muhammad ordered the destruction of all such religious symbols.

在这段5分钟的视频中一男子表示这些雕像之所以被毁在于它们是古代亚述人和阿卡迪亚人所崇拜的偶像，因为古代人不相信唯一的真主。该男子称是先知穆罕默德下令摧毁所有这些异教。

Islamic State follows a strict version of Sunni Islam and does not tolerate what it sees as deviation⁷ from the Quran. The group has destroyed holy sites of Shiite and Sufi Muslims as well as Christian⁸ churches in the parts of Iraq and Syria under their control.

伊斯兰国奉行伊斯兰逊尼派的教义并且不容忍背离古兰经。这个激进组织已经摧毁了他们伊拉克和叙利亚控制地区的什叶派和苏非穆斯林圣地及基督教堂。

But it is the destruction of human life that concerns the world more than material destruction. The militants have published grisly videos of their terrorist campaign, including beheadings of captives.

但相比物质上的破坏，世界更为关注的是对人民的杀戮。激进分子公布了一些令人毛骨悚然的恐怖运动视频，其中包括将在押人员斩首的画面。

U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom David Saperstein told Alhurra television they are destroying diverse communities in Iraq and Syria that have traditionally lived side by side in peace and mutual⁹ respect.

国际宗教自由大使大卫·萨珀斯坦接受阿胡拉电视台采访时称伊斯兰国摧毁的是伊拉克和叙利亚境内历来友好相处，互相尊重的不同社区。

"They want a monolithic¹⁰, extremist view of Islam imposed on everyone and are prepared to drive out those, or kill those who do not agree with them," said Saperstein.

“他们想强加给每个人一元化和极端化的伊斯兰观点，并且要驱逐，杀害和他们观点不同之人。”

Muslims who think differently are not spared brutality¹², and neither are women or children.

即使是穆斯林妇女儿童也难逃他们的魔掌。

"Children of minorities have been captured, in many places, in places where the so-called ISIL (Islamic State) has its strengths, have been sold in markets with tags, price tags on them, have been sold as slaves," said Renate Winter of the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child.

“在伊斯兰国控制的许多地方，少数族的儿童被他们抓获后贴上价签，当作奴隶出售。”

The United Nations reports that children captured by Islamic State face a brutal¹¹ fate.  

联合国报告显示被伊斯兰国抓去的儿童通常都是难逃厄运。

"We have had reports of children, especially children that are mentally challenged, who have been used as suicide bombers¹³, most probably without them even understanding. There was a video placed that showed children of very young age, approximately eight years of age and younger, to be trained already to become child soldiers," said Winter.

“我们曾接到报告称儿童，尤其是精神受到刺激的儿童在不知情的情况下被当作自杀炸弹。有一份视频显示年龄很小的孩子，大约8岁甚至更小的孩子训练成儿童士兵。”

Yet, the radical Islamist propaganda seems to appeal to some young Muslims worldwide.  As governments work to prevent people from traveling to Syria to join Islamic State, many are calling for greater efforts to combat radicalization.

然而激进的伊斯兰主义宣传看来还吸引了世界各地一些年轻的穆斯林人。随着政府采取措施阻止人们前往叙利亚加入到这个激进组织，还有许多人呼吁更大努力以打击极端主义。

1 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

3 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。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 purportedly   

adv.据称

参考例句：

• This is purportedly the oldest tree in the world. 据称这是世界上最古老的一棵树。 来自互联网
• Mayor Oh Se-Hoon launched the campaign last year, purportedly to improve efficiency. 据悉，首尔市市长吴世勋于去年提出了这项旨在提高工作效率的计划。 来自互联网

6 idols   

偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像

参考例句：

• The genii will give evidence against those who have worshipped idols. 魔怪将提供证据来反对那些崇拜偶像的人。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史
• Teenagers are very sequacious and they often emulate the behavior of their idols. 青少年非常盲从，经常模仿他们的偶像的行为。

7 deviation   

n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题

参考例句：

• Deviation from this rule are very rare.很少有违反这条规则的。
• Any deviation from the party's faith is seen as betrayal.任何对党的信仰的偏离被视作背叛。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

10 monolithic   

adj.似独块巨石的；整体的

参考例句：

• Don't think this gang is monolithic.不要以为这帮人是铁板一块。
• Mathematics is not a single monolithic structure of absolute truth.数学并不是绝对真理的单一整体结构。

11 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

12 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

13 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》