The destruction of the cultural property in conflict zones around the world has captured international attention on the need to prevent its destruction and prosecute those responsible. This article examines the current legal protection and international criminal framework on the criminalisation of the destruction of cultural property and in particular the exception to such destruction amounting to a war crime where they have become military objectives. This article discusses the recent decision in the Prlić et al. case involving the Mostar bridge, in light of its being justified to be attacked as a military objective. This article argues that considerations of proportionality are still required in such circumstances. This is vital to minimise the cost to communities and peoples whose cultural identity is bound up with such cultural objects. The article also suggests that the perfidious use of cultural property by parties to a conflict should be criminalised.

世界各地冲突地区对文化财产的破坏引起了国际上对防止其毁坏和起诉责任者的关注。本文探讨了有关将文化财产破坏定为刑事犯罪的现行法律保护和国际刑事框架，特别是这种破坏的例外，这构成了战争罪行，而战争罪行已成为军事目标。本文讨论了Prlić等人的最新决定。涉及莫斯塔尔桥的案件，因为有理由将其作为军事目标进行攻击。本文认为在这种情况下仍需要考虑比例性。这对于将文化特征与此类文化对象捆绑在一起的社区和人民的成本降至最低至关重要。文章还建议，将冲突各方滥用文化财产的行为定为犯罪。