Stop Legal Action Aganist Iranian Archeological Assets in the US

And for the attention of all advocates of preserving the cultural heritages of humanity

According to the news sources, a Rhode Island lawyer has turned to the Iranian collections of leading US museums to seek compensation for American victims of Middle East suicide bombers. The reasoning being that Hamas, the terrorist group guilty for such atrocity, is partially financed by Islamic regime that controls Iran. He wants the University of Chicago to surrender a treasure trove of ancient Persian artifacts to survivors. We know that a vast international fight is being wedged against terrorism and believe that every action capable of stopping stop it should be adopted. Nevertheless, we do not consider this legal action anything tuned to that goal. It only seeks to liquidate the non-transferable historical assets of a country into a source of material satisfaction of a number of people who deserve all the sympathy and help of every one of us. There are actually two points in this legal action that deserve special consideration. First of all, in the words of the US President, we should not punish the Iranian people for whatever the Islamic regime of Iran is doing on the international arena. This is a nation kept under horrendous captivity that needs international sympathy rather than punishment. Secondly, plundering this nations cultural heritage, especially by taking them from their safe public and educational holding places in museums and universities and giving them to private individuals should be consider as a crime against the cultural values of the whole civilized world. We strongly protest against this irrational move and hope that no fair deciding authority would create such an ugly precedence that only reminds us of Hitlers decision to confiscate the cultural treasures of embattled nations.

Shokooh Mirzadegi (Writer)
Dr. Esmail Nooriala (Writer)
And everyone who endorses this petition

June 30th 2006