The Department of Public Activities of the Imam Hussain Shrine has held the First International Conference on Heritage and Antiquities in which 22 countries participated.
Conference’s preparatory committee chairperson Dr. Tala ElKemali said, “We have gathered in order to stand up to the demolition caused to Iraq’s antiquities, especially the city of Mosul’s.”
He added, “What ISIS has caused to Mosul’s antiquities is a hideous crime—such a crime never befell any antiquities around the world. They’ve demolished churches and made them places where they taught ill thoughts and spread bad ideology.”
He said further the conference was to send a message to the participant countries that ISIS is never related to Islam, but it is a terrorist organization, which is against humanity and culture.
ElKemali noted, “Along with the verdict issued by the Shia Muslim Supreme Religious Authority to pick up arms and fight ISIS, today we are launching this conference in order to protect Iraq’s antiquities.”
Britain’s former Minister of Culture Eleanor Robinson – historian – said, “Iraq has a great history and an ancient cultural heritage, and this is what has pushed me to attend and participated in this conference and in order to protect and restore Iraq’s antiquities.”
Robinson added, “Iraqis must utilize their heritage to build a better future and achieve victory over the terrorists and sectarianism just like their ancestors who had achieved that.”
By: Mustafa Ahmed Bahidh
Translation: Mohammed Alobaidi
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