26 Peace Monuments Related to Islam
Right click image to enlarge.
1190's AD - Minaret of Jam, Ghowr Province (Afghanistan). "A UNESCO world heritage site. Forgotten to the outside world until 1957." /// "One of the great wonders of the medieval world. A very tall, heavily ornamented minaret nestled in a green valley at the edge of the Jam River. Often called the Minaret of Jam, the monument was almost a millenium ago illuminated by a torch at its top, and surrounded by a thriving town with small industries & outlying farms. What's remarkable is that the writing on the minaret & archaeological remains nearby strongly suggest that the city harbored a population of Muslims, Christians & Jews. Writing on the minaret is a detailed transcription from the Koran that celebrates the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, highlighting the connections between Islam & other religions. Nearby there is a Jewish graveyard, which is another hint that people of different religions were living peacefully together. Was this lost city once a bastion of medieval tolerance?"
T
O
W
E
R1971 - Azadi Tower / Freedom Tower, Azadi Square, Tehran (Iran). The symbol of Tehran, and marks the entrance to the city. 50 metres (148 feet) tall and is completely clad in cut marble. Built to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire [c550-330 BC]. Originally known as the Shahyad Aryamehr ("Remembrance of the Shahs") but renamed Azadi after the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
P
A
I
N
T
I
N
G1976 - Untitled, Beirut, Lebanon. Oil on canvas by Abdel Hamid Baalbaki (208 x 370 cm). Exhibited in "The Road to Peace: Paintings in Times of War, 1975-1991," first exhibition in the new Beirut Art Center (June 17-July 14, 2009). "Curated by Saleh Barakat. Hopes to show several artistic experiences directly related to the traumatisms of the Lebanese civil war produced by Lebanese artists and executed between 1975 and 1991. The body of works, in different media and practices, reflects an art that has been seldom shown in galleries or public spaces because of its violence and despair. It was produced under pain and anger in a form of expiation, cleansing and apology from the hostility, brutality and cruelty of a mad environment. 20 artists will be exhibited to highlight a period of the Lebanese art scene that has been kept in the dark for a long time."
T
O
M
BAfter 1981 - Victory Memorial to the War of October 1973, Medinet Nasr, near Cairo (Eqypt). Sadat's tomb is under the Victory Memorial. The nearby October War Panorama was built on a suggestion made to Hosni Mubarak by Kim Il Sung of North Korea when the Egyptian president visited that country in 1983. Anwar al-Sadat [1918-1981] received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978 with Menachem Begin [1913-1992].
M
U
S
E
U
M1988 - Musee International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge / International Red Cross & Red Crescent Museum, 17 avenue de la Paix, Geneva (Switzerland). Click here for Wikipedia article. Right image shows "The Petrified" at museum entrance. Affiliated with International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP).
T
O
W
E
R
F
O
U
N
T
October 24, 1998 - J. William Fulbright Peace Fountain, Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas (USA). Designed by Fay Jones & Maurice Jennings. Fulbright was president of this university. Giggest contributor is Saudi Arabia. As US Senator, he chaired the Committee on Foreign Relations. Entry #28 in the "Peace Movement Directory" by James Richard Bennett (2001).
G
L
O
B
EDate? - Globe Mobile Home Trailer, Rainbow Sheikh's Car Museum, Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Exactly 1 millionth the size of the actual earth. Contains 8 bedrooms. In the Guiness Book of Records for the largest operable mobile home in the world. Belongs to Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan al Nahyan, nicknamed the Rainbow Sheikh for the rainbow he puts on the many vehicles in his collection.
C
E
N
T
E
RJuly 1, 2001 - Bethlehem Peace Center, Bethlehem (Palestine). Cultural Center owned and operated by Bethlehem Municipality. Located next to Manger Square between the Church of the Nativity and the Mosque of Omar.
2002 - Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery, Elmbridge Road, Hainault (England). "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” (Sura 2: 156).
M
O
S
Q
U
EDate? - Masjid As-Salam / Mosque of Peace, 2824 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey (USA). Was connected to Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, commonly known in the USA as "The Blind Sheikh," who is currently serving a life sentence for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings.
M
O
S
Q
U
EDate? - Masjid As-Salam / Mosque of Peace, Albany, New York (USA).
May 29, 2003 - Najeen / Survivor, Fardus Square, Baghdad (Iraq). On same pedestal from which the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled on April 9, 2003. "For the new plaster sculpture, 23 feet tall (7 meters), the Najeen created abstract figures of a mother, father, and child holding a crescent moon, symbol of Islam, around a sun, symbol of the Sumerian civilization... The graffiti-marked pedestal bears a sign with the sculpture's title: 'NAJEEN.'"
M
U
S
E
U
M
M
U
R
A
LNovember 14, 2003 - Arabic/Islamic Cultural Mural, Islamic Society of San Francisco, Market & 7th Streets, San Francisco, California (USA). 54 feet by 30 feet. Designed by Dr. Fayeq Oweis, Khalil BenDib & Said Nuseibeh.
M
U
S
E
U
M2005 - Arab American National Musuem, 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, Michigan (USA). "First museum in the world devoted to Arab American history & culture. By bringing the voices and faces of Arab Americans to mainstream audiences, we continue our commitment to dispel misconceptions about Arab Americans and other minorities. We brings to light the shared experiences of immigrants and ethnic groups, paying tribute to the diversity of our nation." Entrance mural designed by Dr. Fayeq Oweis of California. A Smithsonian Affiliate.
M
A
R
K
E
R
October 2006 - SIEV X Memorial, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (Australia). Commemorates 300 refugees (mostly Iraqi) who were rescued in October 2001 from a 19.5 metre fishing boat. SIEV is naval jargon for "Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel." Temporary monument reconstructed annually.
M
U
S
E
U
M
T
O
M
B
R
I
N
GNovember 2009 - Global Peace Ring, Amin & Co., Suha Bazaar, Lahore (Pakistan). "World's biggest ring." Seven goldsmiths toiled for 577 days to create the 50 x 57 inch ring weighing 74 kilograms. From owner Muhammad Amin Saleem: " 210 FLAGS on the surface of my Ring are an indication of Global Unity and Integrity which is the dream of every eye in this complex modern world... By the grace of Allah, the ceaseless labour of my team and the prayers of my nearest and dearest ones, I feel pride of having the honour in accomplishing the dream of my late father (may God bless his soul rest of eternal heaven) who longed for such a marvellous ring as a token of Love and Peace for the whole world. Global peace has been in constant threat for many years. The only way out is the establishment of Peace Free from territorial bias and prejudice. Peace has its own victories no less renowned than war." /// Info courtesy of Julie Obermeyer (Peace Museum, Bradford, England).
S
H
I
PMay 31, 2010 - MV Mavi Marmara. Owned by the Islamic charity Insani Yardim Vakfi / Foundation for Human Rights & Freedom & Humanitarian Relief (IHH). Israeli commandos attacked the Turkish ship in international waters with about 600 peace activsts on board as it and five other vessels were en route to Gaza with 10,000 tons of construction materials and humanitrian supplies. Israel has blockaded Gaza since 2007.
P
A
R
K
