Within the Patrimonies Funding Initiative, a project is being funded to restore and preserve numerous historical manuscripts which narrate the history of writing, legislation, logic science, linguistics, poems, religious, and other aspects of the Kurdish society. The books have been exposed to moisture, extreme weather conditions, and bacteria, in addition to the aging process. We spoke to Mohammed Rasoul, who is involved in the project, about the work, the challenges the team was facing and the importance of the manuscripts for Kurdish identity. Mr. Rasoul is also working on another project, in the context of which a paper restoration workshop is to be held and which is also funded by the Foundation.
"Significant value not only for the current and new generations of Kurds"
L.I.S.A.: Mr. Rasoul, in 2018, you started a project to restore historical manuscripts which is funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. Could you briefly outline what kind of manuscripts have been and will be restored? What is their (historical) value and why are they endangered in the first place?
Mohammed Rasoul: The project of conservation and preservation of historical manuscripts was implemented in 2019. The project targeted 132 various historical manuscripts such as Holy Quran, Holy Toran, Holy Bible, science of logic, poems, Islam legislations, Arabic linguistic, history of Islam, Fatwas (Fatwa: in Islam, a formal ruling or interpretation on a point of Islamic law given by a qualified legal scholar known as a mufti. Fatwas are usually issued in response to questions from individuals or Islamic courts), Science of Al-Bayan (science of Rhetoric), fiction, literature, and grammar. The history of these manuscripts of RKHO (=Revival of Kurd's Heritage Organization) is between 300 and 600-800 years old. These manuscripts have significant value not only for the current and new generations of Kurds by showcasing their history and identity but also for the humanity's collective history and heritage because it narrates the history of writing, legislations, the science of logic, linguistics, literature, religion, and its interpretations which are the foundation for humanity.
The manuscripts were facing major risks of exposure to bacteria growth which accelerate their erosion, moisture, instability of temperature, dust accumulation, insects, fragility and bad storage, physical power and looting due to instable security situations, natural disaster etc. All the mentioned factors play a great role in the destruction of the manuscripts.