Saudi prince funds Islamic art gallery at Louvre
Lux
has donated 17 million euros (11.7 million pounds) to fund the creation
of an Islamic art gallery at the Louvre museum in Paris, his office
said on Wednesday.
The money will be used to create a permanent home for the museum's
10,000 Islamic art pieces and help foster greater understanding about
the contribution of Islamic civilisation to Western culture, it said.
The donation was the biggest ever made to the Louvre, a spokeswoman for
the museum said.
The exhibition will be housed in a gallery in the Cour Visconti, a
large courtyard within the Louvre, and "will assist in the
understanding of the true meaning of Islam, a religion of humanity,
forgiveness and acceptance of other cultures", Alwaleed said in a
statement.
"It will reinforce understanding between Western and Islamic cultures
and civilisations," he added.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, is also the birthplace of
al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and most of the September 11, 2001,
hijackers. It says militants striking in the name of Islam have
perverted the peaceful message of their religion.
Earth to Saudi Arabia: love that art, but also curb Wahabiism and stop
funding the madrasses of Pakistan and you will make friends and
influence people favorably.