Registration of Arabic calligraphy in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List

According to Fars News Agency Arab NewsUNESCO added Arabic calligraphy to its list of intangible cultural heritage yesterday (Tuesday, September 14th). This happened after the cooperation of 16 Arab countries under the leadership of Saudi Arabia and under the supervision of the Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization of the Arab League.

UNESCO has considered the Arabic script as the main symbol of culture in the Arab and Islamic world and has described the art of Arabic calligraphy as a fluent way of expressing coherence, skill and beauty.

In addition to the importance of its use in religious texts, calligraphy has played a pivotal role in the development of the Arabic language throughout history and for centuries has helped to transmit and spread Arab religious culture, customs and values.

* Record 500 cents in the UNESCO list

Arabic calligraphy or “calligraphy” is still used by artists and designers in a wide range of media, from painting to sculpture and even graffiti, and is very popular.

Due to the importance of the position of this cultural category, the Saudi Ministry of Culture has named 2020 and 2021 as the year of Arabic calligraphy. “We welcome the registration of Arabic calligraphy, which is the result of the monarchy’s support for this valuable aspect of the original Arab culture,” said Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture.

About 500 cents have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2003. Traditions from Iran such as taziyeh, narration, zurkhaneh sport, carpet weaving, painting, lounge making, dotar and polo have been registered in UNESCO.

Iran applied for calligraphy registration last year, and the case of the “National Program for the Preservation of the Traditional Art of Calligraphy in Iran” is pending review by UNESCO. The 16th meeting of the International Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is being held from December 22 to 27, 1400 in Paris, the headquarters of UNESCO. It is not clear yet whether the Iranian case has been investigated or not.

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