Iman welcomes Campaign for Saving Syrian Cultural Heritage

The Campaign for Saving Syrian Cultural Heritage was officially lauched in Rome last week by Francesco Rutelli, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister for Culture and Tourism, with Prof. Paolo Matthiae, Director of the Ebla Expedition.

Speakers also included Stefano De Caro (Director General ICCROM), Michel Gras (Director École Française, Rome) and Maarten van Aalderen (President of the Foreign Press Association in Italy).

The programme is supported by IMAN's partner organisation, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, alongside the Associazione Priorità Cultura, and seeks to raise awareness of -and restore- Syria's cultural heritage.

Commenting on the launch, Chairman of the Iman Foundation, Ribal Al-Assad said:

"Every day more and more of Syria's cultural history and heritage is being damaged, or in some cases lost, in the terrible civil war that has engulfed the nation.

The historical fabric of Syria is revered the world over; sites like the Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo, the Crac des Chevaliers, Palmyra, Apamea and the ancient Christian town of Maaloula, are in dire need of protection and I am delighted that a movement has been formed to try and mitigate, and hopefully reverse, the damage being done."

I wholeheartedly congratulate all those involved with this excellent initiative."