Over 200 scholars condemn US-Israeli damage to Iran's heritage, citing 1954 Hague Convention violations
More than 200 academics and cultural experts from around the globe have denounced the irreversible harm inflicted on Iran's cultural heritage by the US and Israel, which may breach the 1954 Hague Convention. The Society for Iranian Archaeology has received this statement, highlighting insufficient reactions to the documented devastation. Since the onset of US-Israeli strikes on February 28, over 130 UNESCO and national sites, including Tehran's Senate Palace and Golestan Palace, have suffered damage. This statement follows a legal letter from over 100 law professionals in the US expressing concerns about potential war crimes. Following a ceasefire on April 7, the signatories alert to ongoing threats to monuments. Iran's ministry is undertaking emergency restoration at sites like Golestan Palace, with 300 experts assessing the damage.
Key facts
- Over 200 scholars and cultural professionals signed a joint statement condemning damage to Iran's heritage by the US and Israel.
- The statement argues actions may violate the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property.
- More than 130 registered UNESCO and national monuments and museums have been damaged since strikes began on 28 February.
- Specific damaged sites include Golestan Palace, Chehel Sotoun, Jame Mosque of Isfahan, and Tehran's Senate Palace.
- UNESCO has acknowledged damage but not explicitly condemned the attacks, expressing "deep concern" in a March statement.
- A fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran began on 7 April, with further negotiations expected.
- Iran's ministry reports emergency restoration work is underway, with 300 experts dispatched to assess damage.
- The statement calls for international aid for post-war heritage assessment and restoration in Iran and Lebanon.
Entities
Artists
- Mehrnoush Soroush
- Touraj Daryaee
- Catherine Kearns
- Pete Hegseth
- Donald Trump
Institutions
- Society for Iranian Archaeology
- University of Chicago
- University of California, Irvine
- UNESCO
- The Art Newspaper
- Centre for Persian Studies
- Iran's ministry of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts
Locations
- Iran
- United States
- Israel
- Tehran
- Isfahan
- Khorramabad Valley
- Lebanon
- Europe
- Pakistan
- Chicago
- California