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The first time I saw the 2,500-year-old Cyrus cylinder at the British Museum, I was surprised. It was barely bigger than my hand.
The Babylonian cylinder is regarded by many as the world's first human-rights declaration. A declaration of a humane intent by King Cyrus of Persia, the tiny cuneiform inscriptions declare that all should be free to practise their own religion. To Iranians it symbolises a commitment to human rights from the leader whom the Bible credits for allowing Jewish captives to build a temple in Jerusalem.
The Shah, Iran's last monarch, went to pains to exploit Iranians' love of Cyrus. In 1971 he knelt at Cyrus's tomb and said, "Sleep well, oh King, for we are awake."
Unfortunately, he wasn't awake enough. Shortly after he said he had "heard the noise of people's revolution", in 1979, they issued a roar that toppled his throne.
The British Museum has housed the Cyrus cylinder since 1880 after its discovery by a British archeologist in 1879: it has agreed to lend it to Iran to be displayed at the national museum.
But after months in which human rights in Iran have been routinely trampled on, is this the right time to reward the regime with the loan of the Cyrus cylinder? Young demonstrators in the "green movement" opposing the legitimacy of the Ahmadinejad government are being shot, detained and tortured. Would it not be a peaceful act of solidarity with the pro-democracy protesters to delay the loan?
Sanctions against Iraq did not destabilise Saddam's regime - they caused the death of thousands of children. Instead, showing solidarity to the people of an oppressed state by peaceful means can empower them to continue their struggle.
Originally the British Museum committed to the loan in exchange for the loan of key items from the National Museum of Iran for the BM's critically acclaimed Shah Abbas: The Remaking Of Iran exhibition this year.
Then in October, the BM ruffled Iranian feathers by dithering. It said it would "monitor" developments in Iran before setting a date for the cylinder's return.
Since then there have been more demonstrations, and more arrests - so has the museum changed its mind?
It hasn't. The BM says: "We have always been committed to lending the piece to Iran." The spokesperson adds: "There are a whole lot of discussions that have to take place, such as, is it just this item or others that they want."
The Islamic republic has a history of being hostile to evidence of pre-Islamic glory days. In 2007 the government gave the go-ahead to a plan to build the Sivand Dam, which is set to flood the Unesco-listed ancient ruins of Persepolis.
So will they give the cylinder back? The BM's spokesperson says: "As with any other loan, the British Museum will expect all its normal conditions to be met, including protection from seizure.
"My understanding is that Iran has protection from seizure legislation in place which would protect the object."
Perhaps we should keep this ancient declaration of human rights until democracy protesters too have protection from seizure.
Shappi Khorsandi's book, A Beginner's Guide to Acting English is published by Ebury Press.
Reader views (3)
"It would be sad if cultural life in this country became a hostage to politics". What about when the politics in question has the goal of preventing an abhorrent regime from annhilating the cultural life of that particular country? Even more importantly, as Shappi makes clear, it remains the only 'politics' that can currently raise awareness of the green movement that continues to be persecuted in Iran and ignored outside of it.
Just because those forced to pretend that the current Iranian regime possesses a legitimacy it does not in order to push through a tension-allaying nuclear deal does not mean that everyone should. Indeed, doing so undermines every individual risking (and, sadly, giving) their lives in order to attain something approaching the ideals inscribed on the cylinder all those years ago.
Shappi's article was absolutely on point.
- David, London, UK, 26/11/2009 23:05
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".. it has agreed to lend it to Iran to be displayed at the national museum."
It will not be returned that is for sure. We should have absolutely no dealings with Iran and should cut diplomatic links and all direct contacts business and otherwise.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 26/11/2009 09:24
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It would be sad if cultural life in this country became a hostage to politics. The Iranian exhibition at the British Museum was surely a reminder of what Iranian rulers and artists were capable of producing in the past - and the current regime was made to look culturally impoverished in comparison. The British Museum had a commitment to lending Iran the cylinder and it's better that it stick to this than break it, especially at a time when Iran is being urged to honour its commitments in eg the nuclear field. The Saatchi exhibition of Middle Eastern art showed many examples of the exciting and subsersive art being made by contemporary Iranian artists, some still living inside Iran. Let's keep cultural links going.
- Susie, london, uk, 26/11/2009 09:04
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