Louvre will open a new wing dedicated to Islamic culture

Paris - The Louvre Museum in Paris will open its new wing to the public on Saturday, which will host a permanent exhibition dedicated to Islam. This was reported today by the AP agency. The new exhibition halls, which Louvre officials say aim to contribute to greater understanding between cultures, are opening at a time of violent Muslim protests over videos and cartoons that offend the Prophet Muhammad.
      The construction of the new wing of the Louvre, which is its most significant reconstruction since the opening of the famous glass pyramid 20 years ago, cost nearly 100 million euros (2.5 billion crowns). The French state contributed 31 million euros to the construction, while the Louvre itself paid 11.5 million euros. The remaining funds come from donors, primarily Muslim countries - Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait.
      In the new building, around 18,000 artifacts related to Islam will be on display, created from the year 632 to the beginning of the 19th century. Among them are works produced in the Muslim cultural sphere stretching from Spain to India.
      The establishment of the new wing of the famous Paris museum was anticipated by the creation of a separate department of Islamic culture in the Louvre in 2004. Its establishment was strongly supported by then-President Jacques Chirac, who wanted to emphasize the contributions of Muslim civilization to Western culture.