Syriac Christian communities: people, monuments and manuscripts in Syria, Turkey, and Iraq

Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 1: What is happening? The significance of sites at risk, and the current situation. with Dr Sebastian Brock and Sebastien de Courtois. Dr. Brock (Oriental Institute, Oxford University) speaks about some of the living Syriac Communities of the Middle East, introducing who they are, and their manuscripts. This presentation is based on Sebastien de Courtois' own experience as a journalist who was present in Northern Iraq in the summer 2014. He mentions the destruction of the Yezidis sanctuaries in Sindjar; the destruction of churches and Syriac monasteries in the plain of Niniveh; but also the heroic action of Father Najeeb who saved thousands of old manuscripts from Mosul and the city of Qaraqosh. Then he shows pictures of the very old Synagogue of Al qosh, in the Kurdistan area.