Help support Archaeological Hero Basheer Shabany

At the height of the crisis in Syria, our dear friend, Muhammed Basheer Shabany, was the Chief Curator at the Aleppo National Museum when it was engulfed in the area of battle, threatened by bombs, looters and ISIS fighters who wanted to destroy the priceless antiquities stored and displayed there. He was instrumental in organizing the effort to pack and secretly transfer about 50,000 artifacts to safety. During this period, his home was destroyed, and he was injured when a mortar shell landed in the museum itself. But through it all, he was instrumental in keeping key elements of the cultural history of Syria from disappearing forever. His extraordinary work led to his being recognized throughout the Arab world as a hero. To find out more about Basheer's role, with several others, in saving the museum, please watch this trailer for an award-winning 2021 documentary, The Oath of Cyriac, about their astonishing effort (you will see him on the phone near the beginning). https://theoathofcyriac.com/festivals-and-awards/

Because of his injuries Basheer retired from the Aleppo Museum in 2015, but his pension is virtually non-existent since the war. In February of this year the massive 7.8 scale earthquake severely damaged his apartment, and it was subsequently looted. In May, while working as a taxi driver to make ends meet, he was in an auto accident that seriously injured his brainstem and spinal cord. Although surgery has helped, he is in desperate need of several additional operations, which he can no longer afford. He and his wife are about to be forced out of their apartment, without money to find a new place. If he cannot be helped, he will not survive.

As many of you may know, for over a decade, Syrians have faced the unthinkable—and Basheer is no exception. With the war, the upheaval, and the constant threat to daily life, all Syrians are struggling. That being said, Basheer has gone above and beyond for his country. Basheer’s two daughters both made it out of Syria when it was still an option. Unfortunately, because of the tightening of borders around the world since Covid, Basheer does not have this option. Any financial help is greatly appreciated.

Your donations will help pay for:

1. Basheer’s rent

2. His living expenses, which are minimal

3. The replacement of his failing brain stem device that was initially installed after his accident

4. Spinal surgery to correct a disc in his lumbar vertebrae (he can only walk a few steps with a crutch at the moment)

The Pitard Family on behalf of Mai & Rajwa Shabany (Basheer’s daughters)