ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Marking the Anniversary of Martyrdom of Chief of Prophets Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him and his pure progeny)’s daughter Sayeda-tun-Nisa-el Aalameen Hazrat Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her) and beginning of the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Durban, South Africa from 10 to 17 July 2005, TNFJ’s Secretary General has written an open letter to all human rights organizations including UNESCO to take effective steps for preservation of holy Sites in Saudi Arabia.

The text of the letter is:

“Assalamo Alaikum,

Whereas you struggle to preserve archaeological sites and heritage the world over, there you should also bear in mind that the Saudi government, since 1926, has been destructing the most important Islamic sites and signs, and Cemetery of Al-Baqee in Medina and Cemetery of Al-Mo’alla in Makka top this list.

And now, under the new project to expand Bait-ul Haram (the Grand Mosque) in Makka, many more significant signs and heritage will be demolished including the house of holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him and his pure progeny).

Similarly, holy tomb of holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny)’s respected mother Hazrat Amena (peace be upon her) was levelled in Al-Abwaa.

You may achieve further esteem by struggling to preserve these Islamic Signs and Sites.

Regards,
Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, advocate,
Secretary-General
Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya (TNFJ)
Pakistan
11 July, 2005”

Forty-two new sites will be proposed for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee scheduled for July 10-17 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, South Africa.

This year, the Committee will review 28 cultural sites, 10 natural sites and 4 mixed sites presented by 44 countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Moldavia, Republic of Tanzania Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

Iran is making efforts to get its Soltanieh Dome included in the list. The mausoleum of Sultan Muhammad Khodabandeh Oljeitu, known as the Soltanieh Dome, is located in the south-eastern section of the city of Soltanieh, which is near Zanjan in north-western Iran.

The Committee will also examine the extension of nine sites already inscribed in nine countries: Belgium, France, India, Germany, Serbia-Montenegro, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom and Ukraine.

The List includes the minaret and archaeological vestiges of Jam, Afghanistan and Timbuktu, Mali. One of the candidate sites for the World Heritage List could also be inscribed on the list of those in danger.

To date, the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage protects 788 sites “of outstanding universal value” located in 134 States Parties and includes 611 cultural sites, 154 natural and 23 mixed sites. The Convention encourages international cooperation in order to safeguard this common heritage. A hundred and eighty members strong, it is one of the most ratified international tools. Parties commit to preserving sites on the World Heritage List as well as sites of national and regional importance, notably by providing an appropriate legal and regulatory framework.

The World Heritage Committee is comprised of representatives of 21 countries. Each year, the Committee adds new sites to the List. The sites are proposed by the States Parties. Applications are then reviewed by two consultative bodies: cultural sites by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and natural sites by the World Conservation Union (UICN). The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM) provides a further evaluation and also participates in the training of experts.

The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the 1972 Convention. It examines reports on the state of conservation of the inscribed sites and asks States Parties to take measures when necessary. The Committee supervises the disbursement of over $2 million per year from the World Heritage Fund, aimed at emergency action, training of experts and encouraging technical cooperation. The Secretariat is ensured by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.