Please help save Old Damascus!
As you may or may not know, there are plans to demolish the last parts of Old Damascus in the near future. You may read more about this at Syria News.
Besides the attack on Syrian historical and cultural sites, here is a quotation from one of the many individuals who will be negatively effected by this plan: “I will try not to cry until late at night; to cry for my memories and the memories of my family and all that pulls me to this magnificent place. I cannot cry during the day because I have several families whose livelihood depends on my business. I need to think about how to feed them and to insure a dignified life for them.” Soon to be evicted store owner in old Damascus as told to Razan Zeitouna.
Please sign the petition below against the attack on Old Damascus, and forward this message to all of your friends who may be concerned!
Join the Conversation
I would have no problem with the demolition if they people who live there are compensated for.
Signed!
I hope this doesn’t happen.
I seriously feel for the people there, all that history and memories lost… it’s an awful decision.
That is an insult to the heritage of the city. You would think a fanatical group of Baathists would have more regard for the Arab heritage. They can’t restore it/find a way to preservee it?
To be honest though, there are many sections of Algerian cities, especially Algeris (the casbah) that ought to be knocked down, because they are totally unsafe and collapse during the frequent earthquakes. But I still think they should be refitted/fixed rather than just knocked down.
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I know how you feel – there is alot of sadness when old buildings in Jerusalem are razed to make room for offices and luxury housing. Very few are rebuilt. Like the area of Mamilla outside the old city walls and the Russian Compound which is slated to be razed….