Saint Catherine’s Monastery, UNESCO, and the politics of heritage

The election of Egypt’s Khaled El-Enany as the new Director General of UNESCO and the recent announcement from Prime Minister Mitsotakis that Greece and Egypt have worked to preserve the status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai have put cultural heritage in the spotlight. Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, an expert on religious freedom issues and cultural heritage, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into these developments, the concerns around El-Enany’s election, and the broader use of cultural heritage as a geopolitical tool.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Khaled El-Enany elected Director-General of UNESCO

Egypt's Enany set to lead UNESCO despite criticism of heritage record at home

PM: Greece and Egypt have safeguarded spiritual character of Sinai Monastery

Greece, US ink 20-year LNG contract

UAE envoy says aid to Gaza will be scaled up, Cyprus is key route