The Arab Regional Branch of the International Council of Archives (ARBICA) has been observing with great anxiety the events of the war against Iraq which started on March 20, 2003 and is going on until now. Until the war ends, we hold all the international and national organizations historically responsible to avert the serious dangers that constitute a threat to the treasures in Iraq - the cradle of civilization.

The ancient civilizations of Babylon, Sumer, Nineveh - the land of prophets and missions, inspire all responsible officials as well as the intellectual and cultural institutions around the world to protect this invaluable heritage in the face of the modern destructive weapons of war. This war has eliminated all the humanitarian values and principles, as well as the lofty ideals preserved in the city of Assyria which was founded in the third millennium B.C.

Archives institutions around the world have confirmed that the Code of Hamurabi (1792-1750 B.C.), the oldest archives in the history of the world, along with its 285 articles of social and administrative laws, is a collection of jurisprudence for the organization of social life. The fertile land of Iraq produced many distinguished scholars in different fields of arts, sciences, literature and philosophy. Further still, the translation of scholarly treatises made the banks of the Tigris and the Euphrates the forum of civilizations. At the turn of the 21st century, it is a historical compulsion for the masters of science and technology to protect this unique heritage of mankind. Instead, we are watching the destruction of all museums, and further threatening the documents and archives with serious danger by fierce bombardment.

The world’s super power supposedly protects human values, hoists the banner of freedom and bears the responsibility for eliminating global threats including weapons of mass destruction. But what we are presently witnessing is a total destruction of all the archives and the documents in the civil service departments which are of great significance for the people's daily lives, official archives, cultural libraries, university libraries, ancient documents, archeological remains and the historical heritage of the nation. All these treasures are already in a state of serious danger resulting from the missiles and bombs before the plundering and looting began to take place.

It is the obligation of the UNESCO and the other international organizations to have been prepared for this situation before it became too late, and to have rescued the lost treasures as much as possible. We appeal to the International Council on Archives (ICA) and the other responsible authorities world wide to take a quick initiative to save and preserve the libraries, documents, ruins, museums, and all sources of knowledge, to set up urgent funds to cover the expenses for executing the required plan, and prevent them from being taken out of their homeland. We hold the coalition forces and their respective governments fully responsible for all the material, moral and intellectual damages inflicted upon the museums, archeological sites, universities, libraries and educational institutes, and hope that each side will carry out responsibilities in a satisfactory manner.

We are horrified and grieved to observe the mob looting plundering and destroying the Iraqi National Library with its manuscripts, books and rare historical journals, the National Archives Center which represents the memory of modern Iraq, the museums in Baghdad and Mosul. Furthermore, 170,000 rare and invaluable archeological pieces which date back to thousands of years, were also plundered and destroyed. The libraries of the museum and universities of Iraq were looted during daytime under the observation of the armed forces of the coalition who had the power to prevent such atrocities from taking place. Is it possible that such an expedition was organized to demolish the identity of the Iraqi civilization?! The media reported that an American cultural agency has requested to purchase all the looted antiquities and documents in order to sell them to certain specialized authorities. This particular action is against the norms of all international treaties and conventions that stipulate the protection of the historical, archeological and intellectual heritage of a nation.

We remind the leaders of the world, and above all the government of the United States of America, that the governmental and non-governmental intellectual and cultural organizations are always prepared to confront the dangers that threaten the moral values and material ruins in the entire world. Intellectuals all over the world strongly condemned the destruction of the statues of Buddha in Bamyan in Afghanistan by ignorant people. We also mention in this context, the honorable example of saving and rescuing the ruins of Al Noba in Egypt and Sudan by the specialized institutions. The efforts of archivists all over the world, and the diligent work of archeologists excavating, exploring, restoring and preserving, are much appreciated.

The United States of America deserves credit for having the best universities and libraries in the world. Furthermore, the U.S.A. owns excellent museums which are visited by seekers of knowledge. Consequently, the United States has a greater responsibility to abide by the principles of international law and moral code for the protection of the ruins, museums, universities, libraries, theatres and other cultural centers in Iraq, and preserve them for the human race which does not accept the price for the 'The freedom of Iraq' to be tyranny and enmity.

We, in the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council of Archives, beseech the leaders of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the allied countries, as well as their respective organizations, institutions, universities and centers of research to take the wise decision and prompt initiative to strictly enforce the preservation of the great heritage of Iraq until it is vested in the trustful hands of the Iraqi scholars and intellectuals.

Dr. Abdullah El Reyes
President of the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council of Archives (ARBICA)