Monitoring Desk
The destruction of many historic sites as a result of the Second World War prompted states to sign, in 1954, the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict — the first ever treaty to prohibit acts of hostility against historic monuments. And though this would not be the last agreement to condemn the destruction of heritage sites around the world, such treaties have unfortunately not stopped these acts during armed conflict, urbanization and other man-made disasters.
Those of us old enough to remember the reign of the Taliban in Afghanistan (or have read Khaled Hosseini’s novel “A Thousand Splendid Suns”) will recall with heart-wrenching sadness the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, once the tallest monuments to Buddha in the world. Carved into the side of a cliff in the sixth century, the largest of the statues was more than 170 feet (51 meters) tall. Records of tens of thousands of monks visiting this holy site date as far back as the year 629. But, in 2001, the Taliban destroyed the statues. The demolition was a massive loss not just for the Buddhist community, but for generations to come all over the world.
More recently, the Temple of Bel, a major religious site in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, was leveled by Daesh. Built in the first century, it contained more than 1,000 columns, 500 tombs and a Roman aqueduct.
However, war and conflict are not the only causes of the destruction of historic monuments. All over the world, such sites have been demolished to make way for modernization and urban development, or as a result of natural or man-made disasters.
In the UAE, Al-Fahidi Historical Neighborhood (formerly known as Al-Bastakiya), which dates back to the 1890s, was once made up of 60 houses separated by narrow, winding lanes. This landmark was partially demolished in the 1980s to make way for the development of a new office complex.
In the Philippines, the earthquake that jolted the central Visayas islands in 2013 not only resulted in the loss of many lives, but also in the destruction of some significant landmarks, including 10 churches dating back to the Spanish colonial era.
Still, individuals, civil society and governments have taken significant measures to preserve such sites around the world. In 2005, Dubai Municipality initiated a project to restore old buildings and lanes in what is known as “Old Dubai.” The result is the astonishing, vibrant and culturally rich Al-Fahidi Historic Neighborhood, where modern art and a multicultural past collide. When Paris’s 12th century Notre-Dame Cathedral caught fire last year, more than €1 billion ($1.08 billion) was pledged by individuals and corporations for its restoration.
In China, the last 20 years have seen a doubling of the country’s urban population, necessitating aggressive development. Though at first this massive urbanization resulted in thousands of historic sites and buildings being destroyed, the country gradually took admirable steps to preserve other sites by relocating them. One of the first structures to be completely relocated was the Jinlun Guild Hall in Guangzhou, which was built in the early 1700s and was moved 80 meters in 2001 to enable the construction of a road. What makes this almost miraculous feat more interesting is that it was inspired by the 1968 relocation of Egypt’s ancient Abu Simbel temples, which had to be moved due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
Growing awareness of the importance of preserving heritage sites has become the responsibility of civil society groups all over the world, and is not limited to those in the host country. The Heritage for Peace organization and the UK Blue Shield have released a “no strike” list of 20 of the most important sites in Syria, asking any armed forces involved in the conflict to avoid them.
As of last July, there were 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 167 countries. When it comes to these sites, notions of political borders and national identities become irrelevant. To be human is not a matter of blood or genes, but rather a matter of creativity, art and the unique ability to create beautiful things that stand tall for centuries. According to the UN, these sites are “of outstanding cultural importance to the common heritage of humanity.” Their preservation and protection is important for the whole of mankind, as they are part of our collective history. We must remind ourselves that, with every loss of part of our common heritage, we are all that much poorer.
Courtesy: (Arabnews)
