Iraq at the Crossroad

Winter this year had ended in a very hot way with the destruction of a tyranny that had lasted 35 years. The storm that is still hanging with its shadow on the whole of the Middle East had a mixed reception. But one thing is clear; one country that had
a long history of successive civilizations and a rich heritage has been reduced to a miserable state. The most hurtful aspect is the looting and destruction to museums and archaeological digging sites. A journalist who was on the scene inside the Iraqi Museum has written a heart breaking obituary of Iraq's destiny. He told us that he stood on the smashed pieces of about 5 thousand years of artefacts belonging to Summer, Akad, Babylon and the Assyrians. Shredded pieces of archaeological notes and documents were covering the floor of the museum together with the dust of marvellous history. Important pieces were looted but a lot more has been left in ruin. However, we are sure that Iraq will build itself again by the effort of its proud people and their hard work and determination. These cities were destroyed and looted in the past but the looting gave way to another civilization to grow and flourish. Tamus and Ishatar, the ancient god and godess of fertility and spring both belong to this land, as well as the blood of Imam Hussein that nourished the spirit of struggle and martyrdom, ever since Karbala. The Iraqi people got back their freedom but they should not be enslaved again.

Islamic Tourism is going to focus in the coming issues on Iraq and the case of tourism and heritage. We genuinely hopeful that Iraq will become the number one destination of
world tourism.

Dr. Abdul-Rahim Hassan
Editor-in-Chief