The French Organization Mesopotamia launches its project to protect Christian heritage in Iraq with the support of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization.
- A French delegation including Head of the project to preserve the Iraqi memory in partnership with Hammurabi Human Rights Organization concluded a visit to Baghdad after extensive meetings and rounds looking for Iraqi heritage.
- Under the patronage of His Beatitude Mar Louis Sako and the hosted Hammurabi Human Rights Organization, the French delegation hold an extensive activity.
- The French researcher Pascal Maguesyan: Iraq is a country rich of its civilization, which deserve protection and maintenance because it is a great human heritage.
- Iraqi elites of scientific and human rights praised the delegation's step and affirm its gratitude for this heritage initiative.
- The delegation project is to document 100 churches, a Christian monastery and temples of Yezidis destroyed by ISIS.
A French delegation concluded a three-day visit to Baghdad on 20, 21, 22 April 2018, and left for France. The delegation was hosted by Hammurabi Human Rights Organization HHRO.
The delegation visit to Iraq was part of a survey mission on Iraqi heritage memory by documenting Christian and Yezidi places of worship destroyed and demolished by the crimes of ISIS. The French delegation included of Mrs. Marie Anj Chairwoman of Mesopotamia organization, Mr. Pascal Maguesyan Executive Director of the organization, Mr. Etienne President of St. Irenadas Organization and Father Muhannad Tawil.
The first day of the delegation's visit included organizing an extensive meeting under the patronage of His Beatitude Mar Louis Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the World, and the support of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization. The event was attended by number of accredited diplomats in Baghdad, representatives of the United Nations and many human rights activists, academics, number of cadres and members of the General Board of HHRO.
Mrs. Pascale Warda welcomed the delegation and noted the importance of this humanitarian and heritage project to protect the historical and religious memory of Iraq.
His Beatitude Louis Sako emphasize the importance of this type of project for the maintenance of diversity and the restoration of religious landmarks which have been tampered by ISIS.
In his presentation, the French media researcher Maguesyan present the project with documentary pictures and written editorial signs, and addressed 100 religious landmarks subjected to destruction by ISIS.
On the sidelines of the meeting several interventions took place referred to the civilizational responsibility to protect the heritage of all Iraqi components.
On the second day, a free tour throughout Baghdad, accompanied by the chairwoman of Hammurabi organization, including markets and heritage lanes, as well as the church of Umm al-Ahzan in Shorja district and the Church of Sayidat Al-Najat in Karrada, which exposed to destruction by the terrorist groups and how it returned to what it was in the presence of soul and faith.
On the third day, Mrs. Pascale Warda accompanied the delegation to visit the National Museum, Baghdad Museum, Abbasid Palace, Al-Mustansiriya School and other archaeological sites, showing the depth and authenticity of the civilization of Mesopotamia and the historic rank of Baghdad. The delegation held dialogues with many Iraqis who expressed their gratitude for the delegation's step in protecting the heritage of their country.
It is to be mentioned that Mr. Pascal Maguesyan stated to the correspondent of NERGAL News Network that he is proud of the outstanding activities of human rights carried out by Hammurabi Human Rights Organization, adding that Iraq is rich of its civilization and that the protection of the cultural landmarks of this country is the responsibility of humanity as a whole for the high value of this civilization and the services provided to mankind contributed greatly to the development of contemporary civilizations.
The delegation also thanked Hammurabi Organization for its support and genuine partnership in the process of reviving Iraqi heritage.
However, the delegation regrets the inappropriate image that continues to be associated with this cultural heritage, which represents the world's top art, where piles of garbage are rising not only in all the commercial streets of old Baghdad, but also around and within these archaeological monuments, which represents a value that can not be estimated with minimum funds but which distort its vision but as a result of the continuous neglect of services rendered by officials in the municipal sector and those who failed to lift this garbage, which confirmed love and honesty towards the crown of the country, its civilization and its universal value, rather than neglecting and minimizing it.
