Wednesday´s deadly
attack on innocent people at the Bardo museum in Tunis has shocked and
disturbed all of us. The members of FIEC, on the behalf of the classicist
associations all over the world, would like to express their heartfelt
condolences to all the victims and mourners of this horrible act of cruelty. Our
genuine sympathy lies with all the families that have lost loved ones as well
as with all those associated with the Bardo museum.
In remembrance of the
people who were killed and injured during the attack, we also feel the need to
voice our concern about cultural artefacts which are being endangered by conflicts
in the Middle East and in Africa. Unfortunately, the famous Tunisian museum
that displays, amongst other treasures, one of the world´s largest collections
of Roman mosaics is only one of too many cultural heritage sites that have been
threatened, damaged, or destroyed during a period of only a few years.
We feel that, in
addition to saving lives and averting humanitarian crises, it is the duty both
of international leaders and of the general public to adopt all necessary
measures in order to preserve our cultural heritage. It is unacceptable for any
person, group, or organization to annihilate irreplaceable artefacts of human
and natural history. It is also unacceptable to deliberately put any of such
relics at risk in the pursuit of ideological ends.
We encourage not only
the Bardo museum but all institutions contributing to the world´s cultural
richness to steel themselves against any kind of intimidation and to keep up
their good work. We have to stand together in order to preserve what is
essential to all of us.
It is, of course, on
a note of sincerest condolences that we end this mournful address to our
readers. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this terrible
tragedy.
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