On Tuesday 16th December in the House of Lords on the instigation of David Burrowes MP, Baroness Berridge of the Vale of Catrine hosted an event entitled ‘Blood, Treasure and Islamic State: War, Extremism and the Looting of Culture’. The event was in association with Walk of Truth (WoT), Founder and cultural activist, Tasoula Hadjitofi. Presentations were made by experts in the field of cultural heritage and trafficking of illicit art. The event was held under the auspices of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

David Burrowes first met Tasoula Hadjitofi at a Parliamentary event in 2013 about Famagusta and shared together a concern that Cypriot cultural heritage destruction needed to be addressed as an issue of identity and human dignity. When Mrs Hagjitofi recovered the stolen frescoes it was decided with David N burrowes MP that Parliament should host an event to call for national and international leadership to tackle the global trade of illicit art trafficking.

David Burrowes MP said: ” the issue of tackling the destruction of cultural heritage is the responsibility of us all. It is also a very relevant concern given the desecration of cultural heritage in the Middle East by ISIL and the trade in illicit art which is funding weapons and terrorism.

I was pleased to instigate the event and will be pressing for the international community to take seriously the issue of illicit art trafficking.

Too often religion divides but, through the Walk of Truth and leadership of Mrs Hajitofi, communities can come together building up trust. It is only when we have trust that we can have peace and reconciliation.

We must work hard for the day when the recovered  Cyprus Frescoes from Kyrenia can return home not to a museum but to the church. We need to work for a reconciled Cyprus based upon fundamental human rights such as freedom of belief and worship.”