How a private fundraiser saved Afghanistan Expo 2020 | Art and Culture Issues

The Afghan Pavilion in Dubai was empty due to the Afghan political crisis before a private collector was asked to collect the pieces.

Dubai, UAE – “The Afghan pavilion is the name of the home of the Afghan people,” Mohamed Omar Rahimy, director of the pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, told Al Jazeera.

Rahimy was still a teenager when she fled Afghanistan in 1978 to escape violence and fighting.

He says his parents have been doing business in the past for a long time – his father, who forced Rahimy to flee Afghanistan, ran an old shop in Kabul.

Now a resident of Austria for more than 40 years, Rahimy said he had no politics, and added that, following the fall of the government of President Ashraf Ghani at Kabul in August, he had the opportunity to take over the pavilion, he took it without thinking twice.

Afghanistan’s elected government was overseeing the pavilion. But after the Taliban took over the country in August, the future of the house was uncertain.

Following the collapse of the government in Kabul, the building remained vacant as Expo 2020 opened on October 1.

After Expo officials gave her a green light to take over the house, Rahimy flew to Dubai from Vienna.

“We come from non-governmental organizations. In September, when the Expo [officials] connected me and knew what I was going through, I was able to do it, “Rahimy said.

“I have lived in Austria for more than 40 years but my heart is in Afghanistan. I have no political affiliation but whenever my country wants, I try to be present.”

Rahimy was still a teenager when she fled Afghanistan in 1978 to escape violence and fighting [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera]

The video contains 300 antiquities and antiquities, all from the Rahimy secret society that he brought with him from Austria.

The list also includes rugs, stones, jewelry, knives, swords, traditional clothing, and a 15th-century gold and silver necklace.

“We have one of the largest shops in Austria selling handicrafts, jewelry and stones. I have about 2,600 items there but I have managed to bring 300 here to the Expo. We will be keeping them here until the end of Expo 2020.”

The court, he said, was built and completed in three days by his brother and his sons working “day and night to do the work” despite the daily news from their homeland.

Rahimy said the house was built and completed in three days by her brother and her sons working ‘day and night for the work to be done’. [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera]

The Taliban government has not been ratified by any country or United Nations where the seat of Afghanistan is still occupied by a former government envoy, Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai.

Following the collapse of the Ghanaian government, about $ 10bn Afghanistan stuff suspended by the United States, a move that international aid agencies and experts say they can make brings “disaster”.

Despite political uncertainty, Rahimy is pleased to see the pavilion at work and helping to shape the image of the world in the minds of those who visit.

“People who come here to the stadium have misconceptions about Afghanistan. But when they enter the stadium their attitudes change because they see the culture of Afghanistan,” said Rahimy.

“My heart aches for my country, but even though I can do nothing about politics, I can try to change people’s minds and that is what I want. People are coming here to visit us with good news for us and good news for Afghanistan. “