By Saeid Najar Nobari
Berlin, April 13, (IRNA) A visit to Berlin's Museum for Islamic Art is a must for millions of tourists who visit the German capital every year.
Founded in 1904 by the head of Berlin's museums at the time, Wilhelm Bode, the Islamic Art Museum has collected the art works of Islamist people dating back to the 8th century.
A major focus is Islamic art treasures from the Near and Middle East, especially Iran, Egypt and Iraq, however there are also Islamic art collections from as far as Mongolia and the Italian island of Sicily.
"Berlin is fortunate to possess one of the world's largest collections of Islamic Art," said museum director Claus-Peter Haase.
"From pieces originating in once-Muslim Andalusia, in Spain, to objects from the Islamic India of the Mogul period, we have a collection which truly covers all important regions and periods. Here you can learn about Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Anatolia, Central Asia and Iran - especially, of course, about the great artistic achievements of different periods," he added.
Some 330,000 people are touring the Islam Art Museum every year, according to Haase.
What makes the museum unique are some of its most valuable collections of Islamic art like illuminated Qur'an manuscripts going back to the Safavid dynasty in 16th century Persia, the oldest know Islamic Spanish carpet from the early 14th century and major architectural components of the early Islamic Jordanian palace facade.
Located in the heart of Berlin, the museum became initially incorporated as the Islamic department of the Kaiser Friedrich Museum.
The first art pieces of the museum included the facade of an Omayyid desert castle which was a gift from the Turkish Sultan Abdulhamid II to German Emperor Wilhelm II as well as 21 carpets.
The Islamic art exhibition was severely damaged during World War II as a result of relentless allied bombings and it took until 1954 for the Islam museum to re-open its door to the public.
As founder of the Islam Art Museum, Bode's main intention was to show not only the beauty of Islamic arts but also its cultural and historical importance which has gained added significance in the wake of current anti-Islam feelings in Germany.
Reports of daily discriminations and harassments against Germany's 3.5 million Muslims have largely been ignored by the center-rightist government of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
While the German media continues to hype negative news about Muslims, it rarely mentions the positive aspects of Islam as a religion of peace, brotherhood and justice.
The anti-Muslim mood reached its peak in Germany in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.
Trying to take advantage of the anti-Islam sentiments in Germany, a so-called `terrorism expert', Udo Ulfkotte, has announced plans for the creation of an anti-Islam party.
German Muslim leaders have repeatedly warned of a growing alienation of Muslims in society.