Attack on heritage is a crime against humanity: Hollande

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French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech during the closing ceremony of an international conference on protecting the worlds cultural heritage.
French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech during the closing ceremony of an international conference on protecting the world's cultural heritage.

Abu Dhabi - President Hollande spoke on the damage made to the historical monuments and artefacts, which date back to antiquity and have been violently attacked by terrorist organisations, such as Daesh, as the world witnessed in Iraq and Syria's ancient sites.

By Jasmine Al Kuttab

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Published: Fri 2 Dec 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 13 Dec 2016, 3:17 PM

An attack on cultural heritage is an attack and a crime against all humanity, said French President François Hollande, during the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) conference on Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage, held in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
President Hollande spoke on the damage made to the historical monuments and artefacts, which date back to antiquity and have been violently attacked by terrorist organisations, such as Daesh, as the world witnessed in Iraq and Syria's ancient sites.
Last year, Daesh bulldozed numerous historical statues and landmarks in Iraq, including those in the ancient city of Nimrud. The group claimed destruction on antiquity, modern graves and shrines, which belong to different Muslim sects, and justifying their acts by citing idol worship.
The terrorist organisation also attacked the 2,000-year-old fortress city of Hatra and landmarks in the ancient city of Dur Sharrukin, also referred to as Khorsabad, which is the former capital of the Assyrian Empire in Nineveh, dating back to the 8th century BC.
The militants also took their attacks on the ancient city of Palmyra, located in war-torn Syria. The historical site, which once flourished as the Roman trading ground around 200 AD, became the terrorist's campaign against archaeology and recapitulating the early history of Islam.
"Terrorists are deliberating to destroy and erase history and humanity," added President Hollande. He stressed that by attacking heritage sites, Daesh is also attacking the history of Islam and the creation of early civilisation, adding that, "Islamic enlightenment brought the world mathematics, philosophy and arts."
The French President pointed out that the international conference proves that the UAE, France and nations around the world are doing what they can to protect endangered sites, particularly in areas of conflict.
He noted that trafficking cultural goods is also an act of terrorism, as it not only erases a country's history, but also finances terrorist organisations and builds an illegal trade activity. "Such organisations must know they will be tried and prosecuted at an international level. We are rich because of our heritage and cultural differences. This is why France and the UAE want to take action.
"We must act and that is why this conference in Abu Dhabi helps create a global alliance, including representatives from 40 states and five continents."
President Hollande stressed that dynamic technology is needed when it comes to the restoration of damaged artefacts, as well as global financial support to aid to the $100 million project to protect cultural heritage, with France assisting $30million as a start.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com 


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