ABNA24 - The war the Israeli regime and the US have waged against Iran not only lacks the legal and legislative foundations, but it is also violating all of the international war principles. In nearly a month, the aggressors not only targeted schools, hospitals, and public service centers, but also bombed the Iranian heritage sites and museums.
Pointing to the historical landmarks of Iran as uniting factors for the nation, many observers agree that the attacks on cultural sites are aimed at imposing psychological pressures on the Iranian people, an evil plan that has so far failed to undermine the nationalism and patriotism of the Iranians.
How many historical sites have so far been damaged by Israeli-American bombing?
According to a report from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, at least 114 cultural and historical sites in Iran have been damaged in recent attacks.
The ministry described these assaults as a “flagrant violation of international law” and a “direct threat to the historical memory of humanity,” urging international organizations, particularly UNESCO, to take a more active and preventative role in safeguarding cultural heritage.
Reports indicate that the damaged sites include cultural and historical landmarks, particularly those listed as World Heritage sites, national heritage sites, and areas of significant value.
Among the affected sites, the report lists 48 museums and six historical urban areas in Tehran, Isfahan, Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Qom, and Khansar. The geographical scope of the damage covers extensive regions of the country; Tehran has reported 60 cases, Isfahan 20, and Kurdistan 12, while the provinces of Lorestan, Kermanshah, Bushehr, Qom, Alborz, East and West Azerbaijan, Mazandaran, Sistan and Baluchestan, Gilan, Ilam, Khuzestan, and Fars also each have recorded instances of damage.
Flagrant violation of the Hague Convention
Attacking the historical sites in wars marks a flagrant breach of the international laws. The 1954 Hague Convention in this connection asserts that any military action that causes damage or destruction to cultural and heritage sites is a “flagrant violation of international obligations and a direct threat to the humanity’s historical memory, a memory that is the common among all humans along the history.
In addition, UN Security Council Resolution 2347, adopted in 2017, condemns the destruction of cultural heritage, especially religious sites; a resolution that was also supported by the US.
Accordingly, Iran has asked international organizations, especially UNESCO, to go beyond minimal stances and play a more active, effective, and preventive role in the protection of cultural heritage under threat.
In addition to UNESCO, other organizations such as ACHA (Asian Cultural Heritage Alliance), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), ICOMOS, the World Assembly of Ancient Civilizations, and the World Tourism Organization are considered international bodies in the protection of historical sites. These organizations can also intensify their active condemnation of the cultural pressure on the Israeli regime for its attacks on Iran’s historical sites.
What do experts say?
Many experts suggest that the way of the world dealing with the Israeli attacks on Iran’s historical sites is a telling benchmark for measuring scale of adherence to the international laws and collective responsibility to safeguarding human heritage.
China’s CGTN news network in an analytical report addressing the war on Iran by the US and Israeli regime that has led to massive damage to dozens of UNESCO-registered historical and cultural sites wrote that these criminal actions deal a “blow to the history of humanity.” The outlet added that Iran with a history of several thousands years is home to 29 UNESCO-registered sites as well as other important cultural sites, among them the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square in Isfahan. Dubbed “half of the world”, the city is a showcase of the Iranian cultural magnificence.
CGTN further held that this war is not just a geopolitical rivalry, but a crisis whose costs are increasingly distributed on the world.
In a special series, CGTN examines the widespread impacts of crises in areas such as energy, food, tourism, and cultural exchanges, posing the question of who ultimately pays the costs of war in an interconnected world.
Additionally, Patty Gerstenblith, a retired law professor at DePaul University in Chicago and chair of the American Committee of Blue Shield International, which works to protect cultural heritage during wartime, underscored the importance of adhering to the laws of armed conflict in an interview with NPR.
She noted that these laws specify what actions are permissible during war and what actions are prohibited. Some American officials, including US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, have referred to these laws as “stupid rules of engagement,” a matter that could raise concerns about adherence to humanitarian principles.
Gerstenblith further warned that disregard to these laws potentially subjects the cultural and civilian infrastructures to danger of attacks.
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