In the Name of God
The honorable martyr, Lieutenant General Qassem Suleimani, dedicated his blessed life to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of the Iranian people and oppressed individuals worldwide, while also defending the intellectual and cultural identity of Iranians. While General Suleimani was present in Iraq as the official representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the invitation of the Iraqi Prime Minister, he was assassinated in violation of international laws and diplomatic norms. The President of the United States has repeatedly acknowledged his directive and role in this assassination, making further threats against the people of Iran and Iraq. One such instance includes an uncivilized tweet he sent on January 5, 2020, in which he threatened to obliterate significant ancient and culturally rich sites of the Iranian civilization that spans thousands of years.
This threat resembles those from the ISIS terrorist organization, which has inflicted irreversible damage to humanity, security, and cultural heritage throughout the West Asia region. Now that, due to the sacrifices and heroics of the people in the region and the bravery of General Qassem Suleimani, the roots of ISIS have been effectively eradicated, the dangerous ideology of ISIS is resurfacing through the words of the U.S. President.
This threat, targeting cultural heritage, goes against the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict during wars, and it also contradicts UNESCO's principal mission of establishing peace and promoting harmonious coexistence among nations. We, Professors and Staff of Qom University of Technology, while honoring the memory of these brave martyrs, condemn the actions of the U.S. President and call upon the officials of the Islamic Republic to take decisive preventive measures to protect national security and cultural sites in Iran against these threats. We express our readiness to defend national security and cultural heritage alongside all segments of the Iranian people.
Professors and Staff of Qom University of Technology.
In the Name of Allah
Iranian Lieutenant General Martyr Qassem Suleimani spent all his precious life in defending Iranian people against terrorism and in providing peace and security for Iran. He defended all oppressed people across the world, and he always respected Iran's cultural and intellectual heritage. While Martyr Suleimani was on a diplomatic mission in Iraq, acting as an Iranian delegate to Iraq, he was brutally assassinated in Baghdad against all diplomatic and international rules by the direct order of the U.S. president who has confessed his role in this terrorist attack and has repeatedly threatened both Iran and Iraq. Among his threats is an impolite and barbarian tweet, posted on January 5, 2020, threatening to target Iran's ancient historical sites which are as old as Iran's thousands of years civilization.
This threat looks like that of ISIS that caused irreparable damage to humanity, security and cultural heritage in West Asia. Now, thanks to the sacrifices of Martyr Suleimani and the people in the region, ISIS has been eradicated. However, the toxic thoughts of ISIS have found expression through the mouth of the U.S. president.
This threat of targeting cultural sites is against the 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict during wars and this threat is against the mission of UNESCO which attempts to promote peace among nations. We, Professors and Staff of Qom University of Technology, commemorating Martyr Suleimani and the other patriots, condemn the actions of the U.S. president and ask the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran to adopt basic preventive measures against the U.S. to defend the national security of Iran and its ancient cultural heritage. We also express our readiness for defensive actions to preserve our national security and to protect our cultural heritage alongside all members of the Iranian people.
Professors and Staff of Qom University of Technology
