Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Chairperson of Qatar Museums H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani during the unveiling of the exhibition.
Doha: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani yesterday unveiled ‘Safar,’ a temporary exhibition organised by the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), highlighting the experiences of Afghan refugees following their evacuation in 2021. The exhibition is on view at MIA Park until January 24, 2024.
In 2021, after the Afghan government collapsed leading to a withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, the world rushed to evacuate thousands of displaced Afghan citizens and foreigners. Safar highlights the experiences and stories of Afghan refugees through a collection of videos, photographs, and illustrated stories beginning with a look at Afghanistan’s history, the importance of its geographical position at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, its wealth and natural resources, as well as being part of the most important and largest empires, and the basis of civilizations since the Bronze Age.
H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums attended the official unveiling of Safar along with several senior government officials.
Sheikh Mohammed welcomed attendees during the opening ceremony of the exhibition and thanked all local and international partners who contributed to the success of the evacuation. He extended gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defence, Government Communications Office, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Ministry of Sports, Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Football Association, Doha Film Institute, Education Above All, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent, Qatar Museums, Qatar Television and Qatar Airways for their collective efforts during the evacuation process.
In his opening address during the ceremony, the FM noted Qatar’s role in making one of the largest air evacuation operations in history a success, pointing to the concerted efforts of all concerned authorities in the country to facilitate the safe evacuation of more than 80,000 Afghan citizens and foreign nationals. He referred to the role of Qatar in rehabilitating Kabul Airport, which contributed to facilitating the movement of people, basic goods and humanitarian and development aid.
The Deputy Prime MInister also stated that these extensive efforts, embodied in the Safar exhibition, affirm Qatar’s commitment to bilateral and multilateral work, particularly global humanitarian efforts. He noted that the exhibition also serves as a great model for collective action at an international level, providing a solid foundation for large-scale cooperation in the future.
Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Qatar’s commitment to its humanitarian responsibilities towards Afghanistan and firm stance on supporting the Afghan people and their right to live with dignity and achieve reconciliation and peaceful coexistence without exclusion or discrimination and to build a bright future for present and future generations. He expressed Qatar’s aspiration for the international community’s continued support of the Afghan people at this critical stage to ensure their safety, stability and development.
Sheikha Al Mayassa, said: “The story of the Afghan people is one of resilience in the face of the extreme challenges they experienced during the evacuation. It is an honour for Qatar Museums to partner with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to shine a spotlight on these moving stories, while celebrating Afghanistan’s rich culture and abundant history.”
