In a letter to Bobby Brown, Director of International Affairs for the World Jewish Congress, the Office of the Director General for Culture of UNESCO stated that the UNESCO Secretariat has brought the issue of the synagogue to the attention of the relevant authorities of Tajikistan, who have been informed that, should these allegations be confirmed, such an act would contradict existing international standards for the protection of cultural heritage.
The World Jewish Congress initiated the action, requesting that UNESCO intervene with the government of Tajikistan to cancel its plans to tear down the 100-year old synagogue, the only place of worship for the Jewish community of approximately 500 individuals.
”This represents an important milestone in the struggle,” said Brown. “We can only hope that this intervention by a UN body that has traditionally been indifferent toward the Jewish people signals a new approach. The WJC is gratified by the UNESCO intervention and believes that the world body may now act to prevent the destruction of other endangered Jewish heritage sites.”
“Tajikistan is a party to the UN Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage, and as such, it is bound to ensure the protection, conservation and the transmission of cultural and natural heritage to future generations in its territory,” Brown added. “It is important to underline that this is not a case of anti-Semitism, but rather [of] insensitivity.”
The World Jewish Congress initiated the action, requesting that UNESCO intervene with the government of Tajikistan to cancel its plans to tear down the 100-year old synagogue, the only place of worship for the Jewish community of approximately 500 individuals.
”This represents an important milestone in the struggle,” said Brown. “We can only hope that this intervention by a UN body that has traditionally been indifferent toward the Jewish people signals a new approach. The WJC is gratified by the UNESCO intervention and believes that the world body may now act to prevent the destruction of other endangered Jewish heritage sites.”
“Tajikistan is a party to the UN Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage, and as such, it is bound to ensure the protection, conservation and the transmission of cultural and natural heritage to future generations in its territory,” Brown added. “It is important to underline that this is not a case of anti-Semitism, but rather [of] insensitivity.”