ACADEMIC HERITAGE

The ongoing conflicts in the different regions of the Middle East and, especially the ongoing civil war that started in Syria in 2011, have seriously damaged and even destroyed some of the cultural, scientific and academic heritage in the region. The fundamental conventions that are directly related to the protection of academic heritage are UNESCO’s Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (in short, the Hague Convention) signed in 1954, UNESCO’s Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property signed in 1970, UNESCO’s Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted in 1972 and UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage adopted in 2003.

These conventions encourage the States Parties to strive and take responsibility for the protection of cultural heritage in the event of armed conflicts. Being a party to UNESCO’s Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (in short, the Hague Convention), which was signed on May 14, 1954, and many other international conventions is an explicit declaration for the protection of cultural heritage and its transfer to next generations. The main instruments of this transfer are undoubtedly the educational institutions and libraries of countries. The destruction of these places, where scientific and academic knowledge is accumulated and preserved, can result in devastating consequences similar to the destruction of the assets that are regarded as cultural heritage. Thus, according to the Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, “Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historic monuments…” is considered as a war crime. On the other hand, the forced migration of the officers and scientists working in these institutions, where the attacks take place, leads to irrecoverable loss, not only for the common cultural and scientific heritage of the region but also for the common cultural and scientific heritage of the whole humanity. The realization of concrete projects by the states, international public and civil society in order to minimize and recoup the loss is vital not only for the current generation but also for future generations.

Middle East and Science Centers

The infrastructures of education and research centers have suffered a great deal of damage in many Middle Eastern countries where clashes took place. Broadly speaking, the region of the Middle East has been one of the most important centers of science and education in the world for many years. The studies that were carried out in this region have become the pioneers of the development of science and technology in the world for centuries. The University of Ez-Zitouna in Tunisia (734 AD) and the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Morocco (859 AD) are among the first higher education institutions established in the early period. 

The successors of the institutions, which are cited for their contribution to science in history, exhibited in museums and taught in courses, are far from making the same claim and struggle to survive. The endless wars and conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa cause the traces of all academic organizations and the history of science to disappear. However, these lost traces are not only the heritage of the Middle East but also the heritage of the world. Reviving this heritage should be the main priority and task of all the people in the region and the international community.