Saudi Culture Minister: Attacks on Gaza Civilians, Facilities are ‘Unjustifiable’

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA
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Saudi Culture Minister: Attacks on Gaza Civilians, Facilities are ‘Unjustifiable’

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA
Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan voiced the Kingdom’s denouncement of the ongoing “unjustifiable” attacks on civilians in Gaza as he attended the 42nd session of UNESCO’s General Conference in Paris.

“We strongly condemn the continuous attacks on civilians and the destruction of schools, hospitals, and cultural properties in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories,” the minister said as he gave Saudi Arabia’s speech at the conference on Friday.

He described these actions as “unjustifiable violations that are contrary to international norms and laws.”

The minister said the Kingdom’s condemnation of these practices are “based on UNESCO’s founding charter, which promotes international understanding as a prerequisite for preventing the recurrence of crimes, genocides, racism, and wars.”

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls for intensified international efforts to protect the rights of civilians in a way that contributes to the achievement of global peace and stability," the minister said.

Prince Badr bin Abdullah, also Chairman of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, affirmed the Kingdom's pride in its achievements over the past two years in UNESCO.

Such achievements could be made thanks to the effective contribution of the organization and its member states in achieving international cooperation, the minister added.

He said that the sector of education, culture and science receives support and attention from the wise leadership as an essential component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This vision has backed noble international efforts to promote education, culture, and science, the minister said, adding that Saudi Arabia has utilized all its capabilities to achieve sustainable development goals.

The minister highlighted Saudi Arabia’s keenness to actively participate in the various executive councils of UNESCO’s programs.

He shed light on the fruitful partnership between Saudi Arabia and UNESCO and the launch of six pioneering projects through the Cultural Development Fund to positively impact cultural heritage around the world.



Saudi Culture Minister Lauds Cabinet for Naming 2025 the 'Year of Handicrafts'

The Ministry of Culture logo
The Ministry of Culture logo
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Saudi Culture Minister Lauds Cabinet for Naming 2025 the 'Year of Handicrafts'

The Ministry of Culture logo
The Ministry of Culture logo

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan has commended the Cabinet's decision to declare 2025 the "Year of Handicrafts,” acknowledging the significant cultural value handicrafts have had in Saudi culture for many years.

The move also highlights the creativity that sets the unique handicraft industry apart and showcases the talent of Saudi craftsmen to the global community.

Prince Badr expressed gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their unwavering support for culture and arts.

Their patronage, he said, has elevated Saudi culture, solidified its roots and unique elements, and enabled the world to see the best of it.

"At the Ministry of Culture, we are working to instill pride in our national identity and all its associated cultural elements, whether tangible or intangible. This is one of the objectives of the National Culture Strategy, under Saudi Vision 2030, which has prioritized national identity and Saudi culture as ambitious goals," said Prince Badr.

He stressed that the "Year of Handicrafts" initiative will help celebrate this essential component of highly significant cultural and artistic value that is the cornerstone of national identity.

"Saudi handicrafts reflect the creativity of Saudi society, encompasses textiles, handicrafts, and artistic creations that have been passed down from generation to generation. These include pottery, clothing, beadwork, copper products, sewing, dyeing, blacksmithing, gold and jewelry making,” he added.

During the "Year of Handicrafts,” the Ministry of Culture will work to increase the visibility of Saudi handicrafts both at home and abroad, and enable Saudi artisans to display their creations at events and activities in the Kingdom and the world over.

The initiative also aims to increase the contribution of Saudi handicrafts to the local economy and to raise awareness about their cultural, historical, civilizational, and economic significance.