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Africa North
Malta seizure of suspected plunder from Tripoli mosques
2014-10-23
[Libya Herald] Ancient Korans and other religious manuscripts thought to belong to historic Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
mosques attacked this month have just been intercepted by officials in Malta.

Little details have been given of the seizure which came after a suitcase was examined by customs. It is unclear if any passengers were detained on suspicion of smuggling the books. If confirmed as stolen volumes, the find will be further proof that the severe damage to Libya's heritage is as much, if not more, about loot and plunder than it is about destroying architectural adornments that the attackers consider "haram", forbidden by Islamic teaching.

After the sacking of the Karamanli Mosque and the Othman Pasha Madrassa earlier this month, UNESCO director general Irina Bokova warned: " The looting and illicit trafficking of cultural objects can only deepen the wounds of the Libyan society struggling for normality and recovery".

She also commended mosque officials and ordinary citizens who had sought to defend the buildings.

In fact locals are doing more than mounting guard over surviving monuments. It has since emerged that qualified experts are busy taking out mibars (pulpits) and other pieces of art from mosques in Tripoli's old city and transporting them to places of safety.
Posted by:Fred