Peace, education to protect Islamic heritage: minister

By Zehra Melek Cat & Hatice Senses Kurukiz

ISTANBUL

Turkey’s Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said on Wednesday that peace and education have a vital role in protection of civilization and cultural heritage in the Islamic world.

Speaking during a conference titled "Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Islamic World" in Istanbul, Yilmaz said: "We protect civilization only if there is peace. So what we want is peace; Islam is the religion of peace.

"The second thing ... is education. Without peace and education, it is impossible to protect [the cultural heritage]," the minister said.

The conference was organized by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the Research Center for Islamic History Art and Culture -- subsidiaries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Halit Eren, director-general of the Research Center for Islamic History Art and Culture, said that unfortunately cultural heritage had been destroyed in Baghdad, Damascus and Aleppo, because of the ongoing conflicts.

"Due to the recent wars, our cultural heritage has also been damaged,” he said.

The research center protects and reconstructs cultural heritage destroyed, especially in war-torn areas.

Eren said that during the conference ideas over the protection of heritage sites will be exchanged.

He said that summer schools across Jerusalem were being organized, so that students and teachers could study historic civilizations and artifacts.

Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the president and chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, said the protection of cultural assets also means the protecting Islam.

"We are also protecting the messages Prophet [Muhammad] gave us…This is really very important for us," he said.

The prince said that the steps taken to protect cultural heritage assets will contribute to the unification of both eastern and western civilizations.

"Our king is indeed very persistent in the continuation of these projects and the continuity of heritage projects," he added.