Tehran, July 1, IRNA - Encyclopedia Iranica Institute in a letter to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano voiced their criticism against closure of Iranian Studies Institute in Italy.

According to Encyclopedia Iranica website, a recent decree passed by the Italian Council of Ministers foresees the possible abolition of the Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente (IsIAO).

IsIAO has been active for over 100 years in activities ranging from archaeology to the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage of Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mali, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

Encyclopedia Iranica Institute is currently active abroad.

Encyclopedia Iranica is a project whose goal is to create a comprehensive and authoritative English language encyclopedia about the history, culture, and civilization of the Iranian people from prehistory to modern times.

It is a project of Columbia University, started launched in 1973 at its Center for Iranian Studies.

The scope of the encyclopedia goes beyond Iran and encompasses other geographical areas where Persian language dominated at certain times including Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Anatolia and Kurdistan, as well as some regions of the Caucasus, South Asia, Central Asia, and Mesopotamia.

The project has published 12 volumes, and is planning to publish up to 30 volumes.
 

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