Suha Al-Subaihi – The Faculty of Archaeology and Tourism at the University of Jordan hosted a lecture today entitled "The Importance of the Hashemite Custodianship in Preserving Islamic and Christian Holy Sites and the Heritage of the Holy City of Jerusalem," presented by Dr. Wasfi Al-Kilani, Executive Director of the Hashemite Fund for the Restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
At the beginning of the lecture, the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ismail Abu Amoud, welcomed the speaker, emphasizing that the Hashemite custodianship is a fundamental pillar of the Jordanian state's identity and reflects the religious, historical, and humanitarian role played by the Hashemite leadership in protecting the holy sites and preserving the heritage of Jerusalem.
Abu Amoud pointed out that the Hashemite custodianship represents an extension of the Arab and Islamic mission to defend the identity and cultural significance of the Holy City. He noted that archaeology, in this context, serves as a valuable tool for countering attempts to falsify history, as documented archaeological evidence supports the authentic Arab and Islamic narrative of Jerusalem.
In his lecture, Kilani addressed the historical context of the Hashemite custodianship and the Covenant of Umar, reviewing its various stages and achievements in preserving Islamic and Christian holy sites. He indicated that the restoration project of the mosaics of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, funded by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, has reached its highest level in five centuries, alongside the restoration work on the marble capitals and wooden decorations dating back to the reign of Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.
He also reviewed the aesthetics of the Dome of the Rock and the underground mosques, such as the Marwani Mosque, which can accommodate six thousand worshippers, explaining that the Hashemite custodianship has contributed to the reconstruction and preservation of these sites from attempts at Judaization and erasure.
In the second part of the lecture, Kilani discussed the threats facing holy sites in Jerusalem from what is known as "Christian Zionism," explaining how this movement uses religion, politics, and archaeology to falsify the historical narrative. He pointed out that some acts of violence against holy sites, such as the 1969 arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque, were perpetrated by extremists belonging to this ideology.
The lecturer also addressed the attacks on Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including the historic Protestant cemetery belonging to the Evangelical Church and the attack on the statue of Christ in the Church of the Flagellation on the Via Dolorosa, emphasizing that these attacks represent a continuous targeting of both Islamic and Christian heritage in the Holy City. Al-Kilani concluded his lecture by emphasizing that the Hashemite custodianship represents a comprehensive project for protecting Jerusalem and its Arab and Islamic identity. It is not merely a matter of restoration and maintenance efforts, but rather an ongoing struggle to preserve the memory of the place and its human and cultural heritage.
From the University of Jordan website: https://news.ju.edu.jo/Lists/News/Disp_FormNews1.aspx?ID=2733