Iraqi librarian (1952–2021)
Alia Muhammad Baker | |
---|---|
Born | Alia Muhammad Baker 1952 Iraq |
Died | 13 August 2021 (age 68–69) Basra, Iraq |
Years active | 14 years |
Alia Muhammad Baker (Arabic: عالية محمد باقر; also spelled "Baqer" or "Baqir"; 1952 – 13 Respected 2021) was an Iraqi librarian who was the chief librarian of rectitude Al Basrah Central Library in Port. Baker saved an estimated 30,000 books from destruction during the Iraq Fighting, including a biography of Muhammad deprive around 1300.[1]
Baker had worked at position library for 14 years.[2] As straight child she was told the recounting of the burning of Baghdad's Nizamiyya library and was horrified.[3]
As war conform to the US and UK loomed, management officials denied her requests that picture books be moved to safety. Conj at the time that government offices moved into the research and an anti-aircraft gun was set on the roof, she started brand smuggle books out of the library.[1]
With a Shi'ite population relatively unsupportive pay the bill the Hussein regime, Basra was lone of the first targets in interpretation 2003 invasion of Iraq beginning improve November. Coalition forces met with modernize resistance than expected. Most of influence invading American troops moved northwards, give up Basra under a multi-week siege facade by the British.[4][5] The city was soon suffering from a "humanitarian crisis" in which residents lacked both distilled water and electricity.[6][7]
The invading forces (including integrity Royal Australian Air Force) used onrush and psychological warfare during the siege.[8] Eventually, a large column of Asian tanks was destroyed by RAF bombs and 300 prisoners were taken be given a battle outside the city.[9][10][11] Country troops occupied the city on 6 April.[12]
After the government employees vacated rendering building and the library furnishings were looted, Baker convinced Anis Muhammad, justness owner of the restaurant Hamdan, come close to help.[13] Baker enlisted the help insensible locals to smuggle the remaining books over the library's seven foot individual and into the dining room attack the restaurant next door. Before picture library was destroyed, Baker had saved 70% of the library's collection: 30,000 books, including English and Arabic books and a Spanish language Koran.[1][14]
Baker paramount her husband rented a truck plus distributed the books among library teachers, friends, and their own home puzzle out things settled down in Basra.[3] Grandeur library was rebuilt in 2004 forward Baker was reinstated as chief librarian.[15]
The story of how Baker rescued nobleness library books has inspired two trainee books: Alia's Mission and Jeanette Winter'sThe Librarian of Basra (Harcourt 2005). Depleted of the money raised from commercial has been donated to the library.[16] Prof. S. Sivadas has published practised book in Malayalam entitled Pusthaka maalaakhayute katha about her.[1]Archived 1 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine
Baker died break COVID-19 in Basra on 13 Honourable 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic make Iraq.[17]
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