Save the Tigris Foundation Unjustly Expelled from UNESCO Meeting
Organization Decries "Blatant Act of Censorship" and Calls for Support

This month's expulsion of Save the Tigris from the 47th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting marks a troubling and dangerous precedent for civil society participation in global heritage protection. For the first time in history, an NGO observer was forcibly excluded from the session—not due to misconduct, but solely because of its critical stance towards the policies of a member state. Turkey’s unilateral demand, supported without due process by all Committee members—including several EU countries—sets a chilling example of how governments can silence dissent under unfounded accusations of “politicization.”

Save the Tigris urges all organizations, activists, and media attending the World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris—as well as our allies worldwide—to condemn this blatant act of censorship. We request that UNESCO and Committee members reverse this decision and establish clear, fair rules for civil society participation. Heritage protection cannot succeed without the inclusion of diverse voices, especially those that challenge power and highlight critical issues on the ground.