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Destruction of Historic Sites in Iran Taliban Style
RoozOnline ^ | 9/16/06 | RoozOnline

Posted on 09/16/2006 3:05:13 PM PDT by freedom44

With the launching of Chinese style cultural revolution by the president of Iran and following the clashes between professionals and government officials over the protection of Isfahan’s historic sites, news reports indicate that similar quarrels are heating up now in Kermanshah province over its historic sites.

By recalling the events that took place in Isfahan, archeology experts argue that planning the underground metro system in Kermanshah on the regions that are registered as national historic sites is not an accidental event. It is completely planned and derives from the perspective that views all focus on pre-Islamic events in the region to be contrary to Islam and supporting to infidels.

The dispute between advocates of Iran’s cultural and historic heritage and Kermanshah city municipality officials came two days after thinkers, cultural activists and artists from Isfahan gathered to express their concerns about the acceptance of the Sazemane Miras Farhangi (Organization for the Protection of Cultural Heritage) to have the underground metro system pass under the main city thoroughfare, Chahar-bagh Avenue. During the previous administration, the Cultural Heritage organization had objected to a similar plan in Isfahan and allowing the metro to pass under the Chahar-bagh. Now it is reported that an influential aide to president Ahmadinejad has revived the project.

So residents of Kermanshah are now concerned about the fate of their city and its historic sites, especially as digging for the metro project has already begun thus threatening the 1700-year site in the center of their city. Experts believe that digging close to the Bostan site not only negates the goal of turning the site into an international historic site, but also threatens the building with greater destruction.

The dispute between the two groups lies in an idelologic difference and perspective. This is not limited to sites in Isfahan and Kermanshah. There is an international movement regarding the changes that have been proposed to the Sevand dam in Fars province. This has attracted the attention of international cultural and historic organizations and societies. Thousands of Iranians have requested professional international groups to send inspection and monitoring teams to the Sevand dam project. They argue that any changes to the dam or the water below it would submerge the tomb of Kurosh at Passargad, which is a historic landmark dating back to 2,500 years ago.

The concern of the cultural enthusiasts and experts, contrary to some claims, is not about the conflict between officials and Cultural Heritage staff, but about the historic sites that are threatened. To support their concerns, they refer to the statements made by certain hardline and fundamentalist clerics and their supporters and argue that just as the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddha sites by exploding them in Afghanistan, in Iran too the fundamentalists could destroy the country historic sites.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cyrus; godsgravesglyphs; iran; islamofascism; persia
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1 posted on 09/16/2006 3:05:14 PM PDT by freedom44
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To: SunkenCiv

Trying to erase Cyrus the Great. GGG Ping


2 posted on 09/16/2006 3:08:00 PM PDT by freedom44
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To: freedom44

When the nuts gain control of Egypt, you'll see the great pyramids eliminated.


3 posted on 09/16/2006 3:11:14 PM PDT by Archie Bunker on steroids (We'll stay out of your bedrooms, if you stay out of our children's classrooms.)
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To: Archie Bunker on steroids

More than likely, yes.


4 posted on 09/16/2006 3:15:23 PM PDT by freedom44
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To: freedom44
I believe the Islamofascist group in Egypt "The Islamic Brotherhood" has already said as much ! To them there was no hsitory before Islam.
5 posted on 09/16/2006 3:24:29 PM PDT by Reily
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To: freedom44

Sad. But not surprising.


6 posted on 09/16/2006 3:56:57 PM PDT by goldfinch
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To: freedom44; blam; FairOpinion; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 24Karet; 3AngelaD; ...
Thanks freedom44.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

7 posted on 09/16/2006 11:23:30 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Saturday, September 16, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Thanks for the ping, SunkenCiv.

This is a crime against humankind and is an affront to all civilized peoples.

Islam is notorious for asking its followers to destroy pre-Islamic sites. The Koran encourages such behavior on the grounds. As you probably know, this destruction occus throughout the ME, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and northern Africa.


8 posted on 09/16/2006 11:27:30 PM PDT by indcons (Freepmail "indcons" to get on/off the military history ping list.)
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To: Archie Bunker on steroids

That has already been tried. One of the Caliphs wanted to raze them to the ground to eliminate the pagan accomplishment. He put crews to work on Menkaure / Mycerinus, the smallest of the three big pyramids at Giza, and after six months or so gave up. The damage is visible, but the amount of time calculated for the project (for just the small one) was daunting.

Djedjefre's (Khufu's son and successor, brother to Khafre) pyramid at Abu Roash was probably never completed, but during the 19th century what remained of it was used as a quarry for construction in Cairo. I wonder if that was part of the motivation for the much earlier damage done to Menkaure's.


9 posted on 09/16/2006 11:28:54 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Saturday, September 16, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: freedom44

Iran one of the cradles of civilization is under attack by the Mullahs. Persia was one of the greatest civilization besides Egypt, Greeks, Romans, Sumerians, and Chinese.


10 posted on 09/16/2006 11:29:39 PM PDT by Ptarmigan (Ptarmigans will rise again!)
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To: freedom44

btt


11 posted on 09/16/2006 11:32:32 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: indcons

The Saudis have even destroyed most of the historic sites linked to muhammad.


12 posted on 09/16/2006 11:34:30 PM PDT by MediaMole (9/11 - We have already forgotten.)
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For Jews, there have always been two Irans (Good Article)
Iran va Jahan | Thursday, November 10, 2005 | Abbas Milani
Posted on 11/12/2005 12:59:51 PM EST by F14 Pilot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1520839/posts


13 posted on 09/16/2006 11:41:36 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Saturday, September 16, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: MediaMole

WOW!! I did not know that.


14 posted on 09/16/2006 11:42:02 PM PDT by indcons (Freepmail "indcons" to get on/off the military history ping list.)
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To: MediaMole

Saudis destroying Muhammad sites? Your source?


15 posted on 09/17/2006 12:09:26 AM PDT by freedom44
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To: freedom44
Here's one...

Destruction of historic Mecca under Saudi Trusteeship

"The problem is, that under the Saudi interpretation of Islam, they are fearful that some Muslims in their ignorance would be overcome with love and awe that historic sites may invoke, leading to idolatrous thoughts. Therefore they are opposed to the preservation of the old historic structures. In effect, their fears overwhelm the valuable history of the Islamic beginnings. "

16 posted on 09/17/2006 12:20:05 AM PDT by MediaMole (9/11 - We have already forgotten.)
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To: freedom44
Here's another...

Destruction of Islamic Architectural Heritage in Saudi Arabia: A Wake-up Call

"During this year, 2006, the extent of the destruction of historic Islamic monuments has come to light with devastating impact. It is now estimated that more than 90 per cent of historic mosques, mausoleums and other artefacts have been erased from the face of the earth, to the extent that some Saudi voices, especially from the Hejaz, have begun to question the wisdom of the eradication of the country’s historic wealth. "

17 posted on 09/17/2006 12:23:28 AM PDT by MediaMole (9/11 - We have already forgotten.)
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To: MediaMole

Saudi Arabia is Islams core, foundation and heart. Iran is the anti-Islam foundation of Zoroastrianism for 2,500 years and probably the nation resenting the religion most due to history. There's a need to look back at history and modern ethnicity, culture, etc.

Iran is the only ethnically Persian country in the mid-east surrounded by 22 Arab nations.


18 posted on 09/17/2006 12:35:34 AM PDT by freedom44
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To: freedom44

ISn't one of the Stans (Turkmenistan or Tajekyouspellitstan?) Ethnically Persian...?


19 posted on 09/17/2006 8:27:27 AM PDT by Archie Bunker on steroids (We'll stay out of your bedrooms, if you stay out of our children's classrooms.)
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To: MediaMole

Saudis destroying their own heritage?????? They have the galls to even destroy parts of Mecca for fear of idolatry. You know that Mecca was holy even before Islam, which was in pre-Islamic Arabs, who were mostly Pagans and throw in some Christians and Jews.


20 posted on 09/17/2006 11:54:45 AM PDT by Ptarmigan (Ptarmigans will rise again!)
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