On July 9, 1850, the Baha'i figure called the Bab was killed. Believed to be a messenger of God proclaiming the impending arrival of Baha'u'llah, he was executed for apostasy by firing squad in the Persian Empire.
According to Baha'i accounts, the Bab had disappeared when the smoke from the guns lifted, but he was found speaking to his cell guard shortly thereafter and submitted himself to his death. As the messenger sent ahead of Baha'u'llah, he is often compared to John the Baptist.
Since their occupation of Mosul in 2014, ISIS militants have destroyed priceless museum artifacts, burned thousands of books, bulldozed churches and mosques, and demolished ancient archaeological sites. The irreparable devastation mirrors their ruthless treatment of entire communities of people.
