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فارسی
A letter to
Director General of UNESCO
On the
destruction of Perspolis
Ms. Irina Bokova
Director-General
UNESCO
7 place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Date: 05/02/2011
Dear Ms.
Irina Bokova
It is almost seven years since
Pasargad Heritage Foundation was founded, as the first
international NGO for the salvage of Iranian natural and
cultural heritage. It was originally formed to protest the
decision of Iranian government to initiate the operation of
Sivand Dam in Iranian Pars province which could potentially
flood the ancient site of Bolaghi gorge and its adjacent
internationally known Pasargad plain. We began our activities
by the help of thousands of concerned people from all over the
world. After a while, when it was clear that the Iranian
government is ignoring the fate of a part of Iranian natural
and cultural heritage that belong to pre-Islamic era, we had
to expand our operations to cover all such heritage.
During the last few years, we
have repeatedly written to your organization asking for
establishment of an overseeing body/department/committee
looking at what is happening in Iran. We have included
numerous documents in our correspondence. Nevertheless, with
the exception of a few cases such as the Nagh-e-Jahan square
in Isfahan, no serious action has been done by UNESCO in this
regard.
During past years, a major
part of Iranian heritage, including worshipping centers such
as Anahita temple and many invaluable historical sites in
Shush, Ramhormoz all over Iran have been destructed or totally
annihilated. This catastrophic end has even inflicted on many
sites that are considered as parts of human cultural heritage;
places such as Bistotun, Bam, Waterworks of Shushtar, Pasargad
and Persepolis. They are decaying and fading away either due
to complete negligence or intentional maltreatment. And yet,
once again there has been no reaction from UNESCO.
This sad and destructive
ending now seems to be the internationally known site of
Persepolis’ turn. Upon a huge compilation of reports and
pictures, some of them even published in media run by the
Iranian government, this site is in a very critical situation
due to the destruction of its ancient drainage system. The
dormant water in cold weather is exploding the stones and
helping fungi to cover bas-reliefs. The site is covered by
litter. The whole process proves the intentional negligence of
the Iranian authorities with the aim of letting the site to
whither away.
We, as an international NGO
focused on the faith of Iranian cultural heritage, have given
up on Iranian government to change its attitude towards such
invaluable historical treasures. They are actually responsible
for intentional destruction of them.
We, therefore, are seeking
your immediate attention and help. We believe that you can, if
you would take action, stop this catastrophe upon your legal
capabilities and by reference to your 1972 Convention that
entitles UNESCO with the task of overseeing the preservation
of national and human heritage.
A world treasure, Persepolis,
is waiting for your prompt action.
With Regards,
Shokooh Mirzadegi
Executive Director of PHF
www.savepasargad.com
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