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Going beyond the more usual focus on Jerusalem as a sacred place, this book presents legal perspectives on the most important sacred places of the Mediterranean. The first part of the book discusses the notion of sacred places in anthropological, sociological and legal studies and provides an overview of existing legal approaches to the protection of sacred places in order to develop and define a new legal framework. The second part introduces the meaning of sacred places in Jewish, Christian and Islamic thought and focuses on the significance and role that sacred places have in the three major monotheistic religions and how best to preserve their religious nature whilst designing a new international statute. The final part of the book is a detailed analysis of the legal status of key sacred places and holy cities in the Mediterranean area and identifies a set of legal principles to support a general framework within which specific legal measures can be implemented. The book concludes with a useful appendix for the protection of sacred places in the Mediterranean region. Including contributions from leading law and religion scholars, this interesting book will be valuable to those in the fields of international law, as well as religion and heritage studies.
List of contents
Between Cultural Diversity and Common Heritage
Summary
This book is the initiative of the Sovereign Order of Malta and presents legal perspectives on the most important sacred places of the Mediterranean. The authors discuss the notion of sacred places in anthropological, sociological and legal studies, provide an overview of existing legal approaches to their protection and consider the meaning of sac
Report
'This book opens up different perspectives on an ancient and still unsolved issue. It provides new tools to deal with the complex question of the sacred places in an innovative and constructive way and contains a Declaration for their protection that is based on an accurate analysis of the religious, legal and political significance of the most important sacred places of the Mediterranean. It will be of great interest to politicians, diplomats and scholars.' Cesare Mirabelli, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Italy and former President of the Italian Constitutional Court 'These essays by distinguished scholars offer a thoughtful insight into the way sacred places of the three monotheistic religions in the Mediterranean have forged European cultural identity. Furthermore, they provide the reader with carefully thought out legal and administrative policies with regard to their protection and access.' Ismini Kriari, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece
