Cultural Heritage Under Threat: Preserving Identity Amid Occupation

Manchester Museum is humbled to host Zaid Azhari and Nidal Rishmawi, Palestinian tour guides from the West Bank for the Manchester stop on their speaking tour across the UK.

Palestinian cultural heritage from ancient archaeological sites to embroidery, cuisine, music, and oral traditions forms the backbone of national identity. Yet, this heritage faces systematic threats: land confiscation, site destruction, and cultural appropriation.

Azhari and Nidawl will examine how occupation policies and heritage control impact the preservation of history and identity, whilst highlighting local and community-led efforts to protect cultural memory as a form of peaceful resistance and survival.

This event will be taking place in the Top Floor Classroom in Manchester Museum.

This event is led and facilitated by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine.

A Palestinian researcher and activist working at the intersection of tourism and politics, Zaid views tourism not merely as an economic activity but as an act of sovereignty and resistance a means to protect Palestinian land, heritage, and narrative from erasure.

He develops initiatives and programs that highlight the connection between national identity and community-based tourism, redefining the sector as a tool of resilience and political awareness. Zaid has led and participated in numerous field programs and educational experiences that connect visitors and participants with the daily realities of life under occupation, turning travel into a meaningful act of understanding and solidarity.

A Palestinian tour and biking guide dedicated to community and heritage tourism, Nidal works to share the authentic story of Palestine with visitors from around the world.

Through his extensive field experience and local engagement, he strives to make tourism a space for learning and solidarity — believing that every tour and every ride is an act of awareness and resistance. Nidal takes part in community initiatives that preserve cultural heritage, strengthen local identity, and promote direct human connection as a way to protect both the land and memory of Palestine.

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