Mali rebels burn library full of ancient manuscripts

[cronus]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/ja ... anuscripts

Mali rebels fleeing Timbuktu burn library full of ancient manuscripts

Islamist insurgents retreating from the ancient Saharan city of Timbuktu have set fire to a library containing thousands of priceless ancient manuscripts, some dating back to the 13th century, in what the town's mayor described as a "devastating blow" to world heritage.

Halle Ousmani Ciffe told the Guardian that al-Qaida-allied fighters on Saturday torched two buildings where the manuscripts were being kept. They also burned down the town hall and governor's office, and shot dead a man who was celebrating the arrival of the French military.

French troops and the Malian army reached the gates of Timbuktu on Saturday and secured the town's airport. But they appear to have got there too late to save the leather-bound manuscripts, which were a unique record of sub-Saharan Africa's medieval history.

"It's true. They have burned them," Ciffe said, in a phone interview from Mali's capital, Bamako. "They also burned down several buildings. There was one guy who was celebrating in the street and they shot him."

He added: "This is terrible news. The manuscripts were a part not only of Mali's heritage but the world's heritage. By destroying them they threaten the world. We have to kill all of the rebels in the north."

The manuscripts were being kept in two different locations – an old warehouse and a new South Africa-funded research centre, the Ahmed Baba Institute. Both buildings were burned down, the mayor said. Asked whether any of the manuscripts might have survived, he replied: "I don't know."

The manuscripts survived for centuries in Timbuktu on the edge of the Sahara hidden in wooden trunks, boxes beneath the sand and caves. The majority are written in Arabic, with some in African languages, and one in Hebrew, and cover a diverse range of topics including astronomy, poetry, music, medicine and women's rights. The oldest dated from 1204.

Seydo Traoré, a researcher at the Ahmed Baba Institute, who fled Timbuktu last year shortly before the rebels arrived, said only a fraction of the manuscripts had been digitised.

(continued)

[pErvinalia]

fucking dark age wankers.

[pErvinalia]

He added: "This is terrible news. The manuscripts were a part not only of Mali's heritage but the world's heritage. By destroying them they threaten the world. We have to kill all of the rebels in the north."

But don't know if I quite agree with his logic there..

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's called "anger", rEv.

[mistermack]

Mustn't burn the Koran though.

That's VERY naughty.

[cronus]

Mustn't burn the Koran though.

That's VERY naughty.

Flushing down the loo is OK though?

[Sean Hayden]

fucking assholes

[Robert_S]

Reminds me of that time the Spanish Catlickers burned all those Aztec books.

Fucking imperialist pigs.

[Coito ergo sum]

On the bright side, a set of manuscripts which were "offensive to and/or incited hatred against" a particular religious group have now been rendered powerless to reek their havoc.

[Coito ergo sum]

On the bright side, a set of manuscripts which were "offensive to and/or incited hatred against" a particular religious group have now been rendered powerless to reek their havoc.

[Clinton Huxley]

Now the cavemen have burnt all that paper, what are the French troops going to wave in surrender?

[Coito ergo sum]

Now the cavemen have burnt all that paper, what are the French troops going to wave in surrender?

Bleached English flags?

[Clinton Huxley]

Now the cavemen have burnt all that paper, what are the French troops going to wave in surrender?

Bleached English flags?

Their lily-white syphilitic French bottoms.

[Coito ergo sum]

Now the cavemen have burnt all that paper, what are the French troops going to wave in surrender?

Bleached English flags?

Their lily-white syphilitic French bottoms.

But, the French fight like their national hero Vercengetorix, don't they?

....oh, wait...he lost too... never mind.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Mustn't burn the Koran though.

That's VERY naughty.

How do they get it on CD then?