Muslim extremists are continuing their destruction of the cultural heritage of the
world famous city of Timbuktu. The Ansar Dine group, which has links to al-Qaeda,
seized control of the city earlier this year. Muslim militants have destroyed tombs
and Muslim shrines, claiming they violate their interpretation of Islamic law. The
city was a centre of Islamic learning and culture in the Middle Ages, and three mosques
and 16 places of burial in the town’s historic centre are on the list of World Heritage
sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
UNESCO's
committee on world heritage is holding a special session this week to address the
pillaging of the site, one of the few cultural sites in sub-Saharan Africa that is
listed by the agency.
“I believe this is a tragedy for all of humanity,” said
Irina Bokova, secretary of UNESCO. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference has
also condemned the attacks, and issued a statement saying the sites were part of a
“rich Islamic heritage.”