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Expert calls to save Middle East heritage sites

MANAMA, April 30, 2015

Historians across the world must come together to prevent destruction of heritage sites across the Middle East, according to a leading expert.

Heritage sites being destroyed in Iraq and Syria by terrorist groups should be considered a crime against civilisation, said Isa Cultural Centre vice-chairman and chief executive Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa in a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 16th GCC History and Heritage Society Scientific Forum, which opened yesterday at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain.

"It is incredibly unfortunate what is being destroyed at the hands of terrorist groups, who are unaware of the importance of these historical and archaeological sites, whether Islamic or pre-Islamic," Shaikh Abdullah told the GDN.

"Especially what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Now in Iraq, in truth, there is a deliberate destruction of Arab heritage sites that link to wanting to erase any evidence of old civilisations and what Iraq had.

"This is wrapped up with political leanings to get rid of our civilisations and our history across the centuries.

"We cannot stay quiet about this - this isn't just an issue of Gulf or Arab countries, it's an international issue.

"The international community should see this as a crime against civilisations of all forms, against humanity.

"Societies like this and conferences like this need to show the importance of this on an international level and we're responsible to make sure it reaches the international community."

Islamic State (IS) militants have destroyed priceless shrines and sites in Northern Iraq, including an ancient Mar Behnam Monastery dating back to the fourth century that reportedly had one of the most valuable Syriac libraries in existence.

They have also bulldozed the ancient Assyrian capital of Nimrud, a Unesco World Heritage site founded in the 13th century BC.

Crime

Unesco head Irina Bokova earlier described the group's actions as a war crime.

Shaikh Abdullah said preserving history and culture was of utmost importance.

"When teaching history, we need to be aware of outside forces seeking to change historical events," he added.

"It's our job as historians to protect our history and our heritage from all of these external influences."

Forum organiser and Bahrain University scientific research vice-president professor Ali Al Shehab said more than 22 topics would be covered throughout the forum.

"Most of the speakers teach at Gulf universities, so of course they know the history of the Gulf more than others," he said.

"They will shed light on a lot of topics regarding history, heritage and archaeology.

"At the end of the forum, we will produce a book on all the discussions that happened during the forum.

"There are 22 research papers, which range from ancient history, Islamic, modern and contemporary history."

The forum, which features experts from across the Gulf, will end today. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Middle East | Heritage | Site | save |

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