The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), proclaimed 2019 year of heritage in the Islamic world in application of the resolution of the Tenth Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers.

Axar.az reports citing official website of ISESCO.

In a statement released on the occasion, ISESCO invited member states to take the necessary measures to celebrate this great event and underscored importance of the civilization and cultural heritage, in all its tangible and intangible manifestations in preserving the collective memory and safeguarding the identity of peoples and nations. It also highlighted the urgent need for the protection, preservation and ensuring the sustainability of the heritage within a comprehensive and integrated vision and on the basis of a participatory and collective will.

In addition, ISESCO called upon Member States to organize cultural weeks on the cultural heritage of Al-Quds on the occasion of celebrating Al- Quds Al-Sharif as the 2019 Capital of Islamic Culture for the Arab region and the permanent capital of Islamic culture; and activate the twinning of the 2019 capitals of Islamic culture with Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

Furthermore, the Organization denounced the vandalism and destruction of many historical buildings and landmarks in a number of Member States, as a result of conflicts and wars fueled by extremist thought, sectarianism and terrorism; and the looting, smuggling, illicit trafficking of artifacts and heritage landmarks. In this connection, ISESCO called for taking the necessary measures to address this issue and use for guidance the contents of the “Manama Process for the Activation of joint Islamic Action to Counter Extremism, Sectarianism and Terrorism” and the “Bahrain Declaration on Safeguarding Human Heritage and Countering Extremism” adopted by the Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference of Culture.