Libya to take care of Sufi Holy Sites

Libya to take care of Sufi Holy Sites asked U.N. cultural body UNESCO on Tuesday immediately cease the destruction of Sufi holy sites after Islamist hardliners wrecked shrines across the country. UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova expressed "grave concern" at the destruction of Sufi sites in Zliten, Misrata and Tripoli and urged perpetrators to "cease the destruction immediately." "I am deeply concerned about these brutal attacks on places of cultural and religious significance. Such acts must be halted, if Libyan society is to complete its transition to democracy," she said in a statement.

Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click

Muslim Shrines Attacked

Libya Sufi Holy Sites Attacks
"For this, we need dialogue and mutual respect. Libya's future prospects depend on its inhabitants' ability to build a participatory democracy that respects the rights and the heritage of all its citizens." Several Muslim shrines have been attacked in recent days, including those of the mystic Sufi strand of Islam. Islamist hardliners on Saturday bulldozed part of the mausoleum of Al-Shaab Al-Dahman, close to the centre of the Libyan capital.

The demolition came a day after hardliners blew up the mausoleum of Sheikh Abdessalem al-Asmar in Zliten, 160 kilometers east of the capital. According to witnesses, another mausoleum ― that of Sheikh Ahmed al-Zarruq ― was destroyed in the port of Misrata, 200 kilometers east of Tripoli.

Hardline Sunni Islamists are opposed to the veneration of tombs of revered Muslim figures, saying that such devotion should be reserved for God alone.The Sufis, who have played a historical role in the affairs of Libya, have increasingly found themselves in conflict with Qatari- and Saudi-trained Salafist preachers who consider them heretical.

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in . The original Source File!!!

Popular posts from this blog

UNECSO includes the Lenskie Stolby Natural Park

Image
UNECSO has included the natural park "Lenskie Stolby" in Yakutia (a region in Siberia) in its World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. This decision was taken after 10 years of inspections. This is already the 25th site in Russia that has been included in this list. The "Lenskie Stolby" Natural Park The name of the park, "Lenskie Stolby", means "pillars on the river of Lena". These are lime rock pillars of a peculiar form, up to 100 meters high, which line the bank of Lena. The site, which attracts many tourists, is situated in about 100 kms from the city of Pokrovsk. The "Lenskie Stolby" natural park occupies nearly 500,000 hectares.
More »

World Heritage Rock-Hewn Churches Lalibela

Image
There are 11 monolithic cave churches that were built on 13th century by the King Lalibela. Only 4 cave churches were finished and the remains are still unfinished. These churches and its surroundings are called 'New Jerusalem'. Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilmigrage and devotion. The World famous Church of Saint George, Lalibela is one of the finished churches.The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are a UNESCO World heritage site. Continent: Africa Country: Ethiopia Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(II) (III) Date of Inscription: 1978
More »

Holy City Demands UNESCO Heritage Status

Image
The local NGO Amritsar Vikas Manch has demanded from Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to bring pass a resolution in the state Assembly asking the Centre to approach UNESCO for heritage status to the 'holy city' of Amritsar. Heritage status to the holy city Amritsar In a letter written letters to Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and a copy to local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, the NGO asked them to bring the resolution in the upcoming budget session of Vidhan Sabha. Charanjit Singh Gumtala President of the Manch said Chief Minister had given a public statement in 2009 promising that his party would bring this resolution in the Assembly, and after getting approval in the house it will be forwarded to the Centre with request to grant heritage status to the holy city. But even after lapsing of so much time no headway had been made'', stated Gumtala.
More »