(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Tunisia plans to seek Unesco World Heritage status for the island of Djerba, site of Africa's oldest synagogue and an annual Jewish pilgrimage, its culture minister said yesterday.
Speaking on the last day of the pilgrimage to the Ghriba synagogue, Mohamed Zine El-Abidine said the island was important for its 'cultural and religious uniqueness.
He said the application to add Djerba to the World Heritage List would highlight the rich religious heritage of the island, which is home to centuries-old mosques, churches and synagogues.
He did not give a specific time frame for the application.
The cultural agency of the United Nations already lists eight sites in the North African country, including the old cities of Tunis and Sousse and the city of Carthage, once the capital of the Mediterranean-wide Phoenician empire.
Some 3,000 pilgrims attended this year's Jewish pilgrimage to the island, which ended yesterday under tight security following a string of militant attacks in Tunisia.
'There has been a real increase compared to the past two years, Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi said.
'It is an important sign for the start of the tourist season, she added.
The number of pilgrims visiting the synagogue has fallen sharply since a suicide bombing claimed by Al Qaeda struck Ghriba just before the 2002 pilgrimage, killing 21 people.
Before that the event attracted as many as 8,000 pilgrims a year.
Believed to have been founded in 586 BC, the Ghriba synagogue has long been a destination for pilgrims.
Many of today's pilgrims came from Europe, the United States and Israel.
Prime Minister Youssef Chahed was in Ghriba yesterday to deliver what he called 'a double message.
'Firstly...Tunisia is a country several thousand years old, with a deep-rooted history of openness to all religions,
he said.
MENAFN1505201700670000ID1095478968
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.