Five Iraqi archaeologists have written an open letter to prime minister Nouri al-Maliki expressing concern at a sudden announcement that the Iraq Museum in Baghdad will reopen.
"The plan to open one of the world's most important museums in a period of two weeks displays a remarkable unawareness of cultural heritage management," the letter read. "The museums and historical sites of Iraq should not fall victim to the political whim of the moment, and be sacrificed for the sake of a public relations campaign on behalf of the government."
Donny George Youkhanna, former chairman of the State Board of Antiquities and a signatory of the letter, said the decision to reopen was against the wishes of the museum's director, Amira Edan, and her staff.
"They [the government] just want to show that Baghdad is safe and Americans go away, we don't need you," he said.
"But the security in Baghdad is still not good - anything can happen. The visitors to the museum will be children, students and families, who would be massacred if there were an attack by a suicide bomber. Then there is damage to the antiquities themselves. It would be another catastrophe for the museum."
The security situation in Baghdad is better than it was, said a source close to the museum, but it is not good, and staff are worried that even a limited opening could lead to further looting.
Museums Journal understands that the decision was taken at ministerial level, and that Edan, who was also chairwoman of the State Board of Antiquities, was removed from this post last month due to her opposition to the plan, although she stays as director of the museum.
The Iraqi government is said to be divided on when the museum should reopen, although one government source said some galleries in the museum were scheduled to open at the start of this month, and that additional security would be provided.
"The plan to open one of the world's most important museums in a period of two weeks displays a remarkable unawareness of cultural heritage management," the letter read. "The museums and historical sites of Iraq should not fall victim to the political whim of the moment, and be sacrificed for the sake of a public relations campaign on behalf of the government."
Donny George Youkhanna, former chairman of the State Board of Antiquities and a signatory of the letter, said the decision to reopen was against the wishes of the museum's director, Amira Edan, and her staff.
"They [the government] just want to show that Baghdad is safe and Americans go away, we don't need you," he said.
"But the security in Baghdad is still not good - anything can happen. The visitors to the museum will be children, students and families, who would be massacred if there were an attack by a suicide bomber. Then there is damage to the antiquities themselves. It would be another catastrophe for the museum."
The security situation in Baghdad is better than it was, said a source close to the museum, but it is not good, and staff are worried that even a limited opening could lead to further looting.
Museums Journal understands that the decision was taken at ministerial level, and that Edan, who was also chairwoman of the State Board of Antiquities, was removed from this post last month due to her opposition to the plan, although she stays as director of the museum.
The Iraqi government is said to be divided on when the museum should reopen, although one government source said some galleries in the museum were scheduled to open at the start of this month, and that additional security would be provided.
Links
Lost Treasures, Museums Journal May 2008, p22-27
Lost Treasures, Museums Journal May 2008, p22-27
