The Islamic Republic of Iran has announced its readiness to protect at-risk Iraqi artifacts after the destruction of invaluable relics by the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in the northern city of Mosul, Press TV reports.
We have sent three separate letters. One to Irina Bokova, the head of the UN cultural agency, demanding swift action and practical measures to safeguard historical monuments and artifacts in Iraq, Mohammad-Hassan Talebian, the deputy head of Irans Cultural Heritage Organization told Press TV in Tehran.
Talebian added that in another missive to the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Tehran has called on its members to condemn ISILs barbaric act while in a third correspondence to Iraqs tourism and antiquities minister Iran has offered to provide Baghdad with any kind of help it would need in the face of atrocities by the terrorists.
We are ready to send a team of specialists to Iraq to collect the damaged artifacts, bring them back and restore them and keep them here until the country becomes more stable. We can also bring potentially at-risk Iraqi artifacts and keep them as long as the Iraqi government wants us to, he noted, adding that destroying ancient artifacts and civilizations are by no means accepted in Islamic culture.
The ISIL terror group released a new video on February 26 showing its militants using sledgehammers and drills to smash ancient statues at the Mosul Museum, which put on display Assyrian artifacts dating back to the 9th century B.C.
The destruction of ancient artifacts in the militant-held city is believed to be the worst cultural tragedy since Iraqs national museum was ransacked in the chaos that followed the US-led invasion of the country in 2003.
The Arab country officially reopened its national museum in the capital city of Baghdad on Saturday with officials describing it as a response to ISILs act of violence.
Iraqs Deputy Tourism and Antiquities Minister Qais Hussein Rashid said the events in Mosul prompted the Iraqi authorities to speed up their work as they sought to open the national museum on Saturday as a response to what the gangs of Daesh (ISIL) did.
During the opening ceremony, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi condemned the barbaric, criminal terrorists for their action, vowing to bring them to justice.
MR/HSN/HMV
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
