Say NO to Israel’s cultural white wash with the Aga Khan
On January 18, 2018
In partnership with the
Is sponsoring a show featuring
Israeli performer “Yemen Blues”
Thursday, January 18.
See: https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/performing-arts/event/yemen-blues
ACTION:
Email at: information@agakhanmuseum.org
Attention to:
Henry Kim, Director and CEO
Amirali Alibhai, Head of Performing Arts
and/ or call and ask to speak to Henry Kim and Amirali Alibhai at:
General Information 416.646.4677
Call Toll-Free 1.844.859.3671
Also you can send email to the Aga Khan Foundation at: http://www.akdn.org/webform/contact-us
And let them know that this whitewashing has no place at the Aga Khan.
The Aga Khan mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the contribution that Muslim civilizations have made to world heritage. Through education, research, and collaboration, the Museum will foster dialogue and promote tolerance and mutual understanding among people.
Why then does the Aga Khan performances page says:
Since 2016, our World Music Series has been connecting cultures and inspiring conversations. This season the series continues under a new banner of Global Conversations with the rhythms and sounds of Italy, Israel, Egypt, and beyond.
Why did Aga Khan undertake this joint venture with the Israeli Consulate to join in the North American tour to whitewash Israel? See Yemen Blues website for list of locations: http://www.yemenblues.com/
Because: Israel overtly uses culture as a form of propaganda to whitewash or justify its regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid over the Palestinian people.
Just as South African anti-apartheid activists had called on international artists, writers and cultural institutions to culturally boycott South Africa, Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) urges international cultural workers and cultural organizations, including unions and associations, to boycott and/or work towards the cancellation of events, activities, agreements, or projects involving Israel, its lobby groups or its cultural institutions.
International venues and festivals are asked to reject funding and any form of sponsorship from the Israeli government. Thousands of artists across the world now refuse to perform in Israel, including a host of global superstars such as Roger Waters from Pink Floyd, Lauryn Hill and Chuck D.I
For information on Cultural Boycott: https://bdsmovement.net/cultural-boycott
The aim of the Aga Khan Museum will be to offer unique insights and new perspectives into Islamic civilizations and the cultural threads that weave through history binding us all together. My hope is that the Museum will also be a centre of education and of learning, and that it will act as a catalyst for mutual understanding and tolerance. His Highness the Aga Khan
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The following email has been sent to Aga Khan Museum and to the Aga Khan Foundation.
From: Canadian BDS Coalition <bdscoalition@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 1:46 AM
Subject: Cultural whitewashing has no place at the Aga Khan
To: information@agakhanmuseum.org
Attention to:
Henry Kim, Director and CEO
Amirali Alibhai, Head of Performing Arts
Dear Henry Kim and Amirali Alibhai:
The Aga Khan mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the contribution that Muslim civilizations have made to world heritage. According to your website, Aga Khan said “The aim of the Aga Khan Museum will be to offer unique insights and new perspectives into Islamic civilizations and the cultural threads that weave through history binding us all together.”
However, the Aga Khan performances page says:
Since 2016, our World Music Series has been connecting cultures and inspiring conversations. This season the series continues under a new banner of Global Conversations with the rhythms and sounds of Italy, Israel, Egypt, and beyond.
Why is this list missing the countries that reflect Muslim history and culture? What does Israel or Italy have to do with Islamic history that place them in only three countries mentioned? This is very concerning.
Even more concerning is that today, January 18, 2018, a concert is being held at the Aga Khan Museum that is a joint venture with the Israeli Consulate. This performance by Yemen Blues an Israeli group is part of a North American tour to whitewash Israel.
Israel overtly uses culture as a form of propaganda to whitewash or justify its regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid over the Palestinian people. The Aga Khan Museum by holding this event with the Israeli Consulate is complicit in culture whitewash. This co-sponsored event flies in the face of the mission of the Aga Khan Museum.
Just as South African anti-apartheid activists had called on international artists, writers and cultural institutions to culturally boycott South Africa, Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) urges international cultural workers and cultural organizations, including unions and associations, to boycott and/or work towards the cancellation of events, activities, agreements, or projects involving Israel, its lobby groups or its cultural institutions.
International venues and festivals are asked to reject funding and any form of sponsorship from the Israeli government. Thousands of artists across the world now refuse to perform in Israel, including a host of global superstars such as Roger Waters from Pink Floyd, Lauryn Hill and Chuck D.I However, the Aga Khan Museum, a museum with a mandate to offer perspective and insight into the Islamic civilization, has chosen to host an event that is sponsored by the Israeli consulate. Why would the Aga Khan choose to turn its back on its core mandate to whitewash for Israel?
We ask you to cancel the Yemen Blue event, and make a public statement indicating that the Aga Khan stands with justice for Palestine, and with Muslim people in Canada and around the world. We ask you to recognize that it was a mistake to host an event with the Israeli government through its consulate that white washes Israel’s apartheid actions. Israel is breaking of international law including the Fourth Geneva Convention and denying human rights. This includes the denial of refugees to return, a right provided to all other refugees in the world. For Aga Khan to continue with this event puts in jeopardy its credibility as an institution that
You can find more information on the cultural boycott of Israel at: https://bdsmovement.net/cultural-boycott
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
The Canadian BDS Coalition