Campaign Supporting Iran’s Cultural Heritage; Thousands of Signatures and Government Officials’ Silence

The campaign “Petition to End Threats Against Humanity’s Cultural Heritage” was launched on December 7. Concerns raised by tourism activists have been highlighted in this campaign. The government claims the dimensions of this campaign are “global.” Officials and tourism offices remained silent.

Following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to attack Iran’s cultural centers, a new campaign titled “Petition to End Threats Against Humanity’s Cultural Heritage” has been launched. It remains unclear whether this campaign was initiated “organically” by tourism activists or enjoys “support and guidance” from state and government bodies.

In this campaign, in both Persian and English, addressing the UN Secretary-General, it is emphasized that Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s “cultural and historical” centers is unrelated to political differences and objectives.

Continuing this campaign, by referring to the fact that Iran’s historical and cultural heritage of civilization belongs to human civilization and “all humans of the past, present, and future of the world,” it is stressed: “Any damage to humanity’s heritage anywhere in the world and by anyone is equivalent to a crime against human culture and civilization.”

One Campaign and Several Titles

Some domestic Iranian media and several websites active in tourism news coverage wrote that this campaign was formed by a group of “tourism activists,” but some media outlets such as IRNA called the initiators of this campaign “a group of cultural heritage and tourism activists.”

Websites of the government and Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, however, went a step further and wrote on December 17 (January 7) that the campaign “of Iran and world cultural heritage and tourism activists in response to Trump’s threat” was formed.

Among the signatories of this campaign, no names and details of the “real or legal identities of global tourism activists” have yet been seen.

It is still unclear whether this campaign was initiated as a “spontaneous effort” or was “guided” by state or governmental bodies to give broader dimensions to support for Iran’s cultural and historical centers against the threats of the U.S. President.

Donald Trump, President of the United States, threatened to attack 52 historical and cultural artifacts of Iran in commemoration and symbolism of the hostage-taking of 52 Americans in 1358 (1979) in Tehran. His threat has faced reactions.

Why Weak Government Support for the Campaign?

No supportive reaction from Ali Asghar Mounesan, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, and his two deputies in the “Cultural Heritage and Handicrafts” department regarding this campaign has been reported so far.

Websites of active centers and offices in the field of tourism and cultural heritage, as well as information platforms of specialized associations for tourism consulting and tour operations, have not taken a position as of the time of preparing this report on whether this campaign is spontaneous or state-sponsored.

However, IRNA wrote that Vali Teymouri, Deputy Minister of Tourism at this ministry, has supported this campaign.

Some media outlets yesterday questioned the silence of Mounesan, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, in the face of the U.S. President’s threat to cultural centers, and wrote that this official finally showed a “belated reaction.”

Mehr reported that Mr. Mounesan was the last person to finally react to Trump’s threat, saying: “I hope it was just a verbal mistake!”

From Honor to Politicians’ Populism

The campaign “Petition to End Threats Against Humanity’s Cultural Heritage” was launched on Monday, December 16 (January 6), and has so far been signed by nearly 13,000 people inside and outside the country.

The names of many signatories of this campaign are listed as anonymous, with countries of residence mentioned as Iran, Pakistan, Britain, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Australia, and others.

One signatory of this campaign introduced himself as a senior expert in restoration and revival of historical buildings and wrote that cultural heritage is the honor of every country that must be protected and preserved for future generations.

Another signatory wrote that “we need peace to live and we are fed up with war.”

Sajjad from Iran, referring to the fact that when “Americans like them lived in forests,” Iranians had an advanced civilization, wrote: “Pay attention to who your opponent is.” It appears his reference is to Donald Trump.

Naghmeh from Iran also considered the U.S. President’s threats “a great loss for humanity.”

Ramin from Iran wrote next to his signature that one must stop these “childish threats of populist politicians,” even if it is the U.S. President.

Fatimah considered these threats harmful to peace and coexistence among nations, and another signatory named TED.C from Britain wrote that “human history always overcomes contemporary political ideology.”

Source: DW