Fresh debates resurface over Dr. Yunus and the Tree of Peace “award” amid anti-Israel protest
A series of claims have recently emerged on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, alleging that Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor to the Bangladesh Interim Government, received an “award” from Israel and misrepresented it as a UNESCO honour. These posts have been accompanied by links or screenshots from a report published by Bangla daily Jugantor, titled “Dr. Yunus Presents Israel Award as UNESCO’s.” The report was originally published in March 2024 after Dr. Yunus received the “Tree of Peace” at the 11th World Baku Forum in Azerbaijan. Before Dr. Yunus, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also received the same mementos, which is basically a sculpture by a French artist and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, in 2014.
However, a controversy sparked over which organization presented Dr. Yunus with the Tree of Peace honour. This debate, which first emerged a year ago, has resurfaced at a time when protests against Israel’s offensive in Palestine have intensified in Bangladesh. Amid these anti-Israel demonstrations, some social media posts have accused Dr. Yunus of misrepresenting the honour from Israel as one from the United Nations. These claims have led some individuals to label Dr. Yunus a fraud, while others have called for a boycott of his work.
But what exactly is the Tree of Peace? Is it a UNESCO or Israeli award? Who is behind presenting this honour? Who else has received it in the past? Dismislab has explored the answers to these questions in this article.
How the controversy began
The controversy surrounding the Tree of Peace began in March 2024, after Dr. Muhammad Yunus received the honour. At the time, the Yunus Centre issued a press release claiming that Dr. Yunus “received the Tree of Peace award from UNESCO.” Several Bangladeshi media outlets (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) then ran reports saying Dr. Yunus had been awarded UNESCO’s Tree of Peace as a recognition of his work.
In response, the then Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury accused Dr. Yunus of deceptively promoting an “award” from an Israeli sculptor as a UNESCO prize. Following this, on March 27, 2024, Bangla daily Jugantor published a report titled “Dr. Yunus Presents Israel Award as UNESCO’s.” Links and screenshots of this report are now being shared on social media.
The old debate resurfaced on Facebook during global protests against Israel’s attack on Gaza. In solidarity with the “Global Strike for Gaza” movement, university students in Bangladesh announced a “No Work, No School” program on April 7, 2025. Meanwhile, several Facebook pages (1, 2, 3), profiles (1, 2, 3), and groups (1, 2) shared the Jugantor report’s screenshots and links, claiming that Dr. Yunus had misrepresented the recognition from Israel as a UNESCO honour. The same claim was shared from the official Facebook page of the Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League, an affiliate of the Awami League party.
“Tree of Peace” is neither an Israeli nor a UNESCO award
In March 2024, several media outlets (1, 2) referred to the Tree of Peace as an Israeli prize. However, there is no connection between the memorial and Israel. It is actually a replica of a sculpture by French artist Hedva Ser, who is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. The sculpture has become a symbol of peace for UNESCO, which has promoted it over time. Occasionally, the “Tree of Peace” has been given to eminent individuals for their contributions to politics, culture, and peace, and it has been presented in various competitive events and exhibitions as well.
In 2015, UNESCO organized a quiz competition to celebrate its 70th anniversary, where participants answered 70 questions related to the organization’s history. The winner, Ms. Yulia Plakhutina, staff member of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), received a bronze Tree of Peace as a prize.
Additionally, the Tree of Peace has been listed for sale on several online shopping websites, where anyone can purchase it. The price listed on these websites is 2,300 euros, approximately 306,000 Bangladeshi Taka. This shows that the Tree of Peace is not an Israeli award but a memento that can be given as a prize or recognition by any institution, country, or individual.
The Tree of Peace is also not a UNESCO award, as claimed in the Yunus Centre’s press release in 2024. After the then-Education Minister raised objections, the Yunus Centre issued another press release to clarify their statement, which mentioned that – “The Secretary General of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre (NGIC), that organizes the Baku Forum, Mr Rovshan Muradov sent an email to Yunus Centre informing that in addition to addressing the Conference, Professor Yunus would receive an award from UNESCO on the closing day of the conference.”
To verify whether UNESCO had awarded the Tree of Peace to Dr. Yunus, Dismislab contacted UNESCO’s headquarters. A spokesperson from the organization confirmed that the “Tree of Peace” is a sculpture created by Hedva Ser, who is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. However, this artwork is not an official UNESCO award.
In 2024, the then-Education Minister of Bangladesh, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, referred to Hedva Ser as an Israeli sculptor. Although Ser was born in Israel, UNESCO’s official site refers to her as a French national.
What is Tree of Peace?
The first installation of the Tree of Peace sculpture took place on December 30, 2007, on a hilltop between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Hospital, with the University president in attendance. Since then, the sculpture has been placed in numerous cities worldwide, including locations such as Palestine, New York, Philadelphia, Malta, Baku, Berlin, Paris, Athens, and Abu Dhabi.
Typically, the “Tree of Peace” is placed in public spaces. According to the artist’s official website, the sculpture is inscribed as a symbol of understanding between nations. It aspires to resolve conflicts, as well as to celebrate peace between the peoples of the world.
Over time, it has also become one of the symbols of Peace to UNESCO. As a result, UNESCO has promoted it on different occasions and, in some instances, the sculpture has been presented to individuals around the world who have made significant contributions to politics, culture, and peace.
Two Bangladesh nationals have received the mementos: former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2014, and Dr. Muhammad Yunus in 2024. Other recipients include Algerian artist Rachid Koraïchi; former Trinidad and Tobago diplomat and President of the 78th UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis; and former Presidents Tarja Halonen of Finland and Boris Tadić of Serbia. The sculpture has also been awarded to many other individuals for their contributions to peace.
According to the artist’s official website, the sculpture includes symbolic elements: it stretches its branches to heaven, as if to implore it, filled with symbols intended to bring men closer together and restore peace to all the peoples. The first element of the sculpture is the “Chai,” which in the Bible, signifies life. The second element is the “Shin,” which in Hebrew is the first letter of the word “Shalom,” and in Arabic, the first letter of the word, “Salam.” The third element of the sculpture of the tree is the dove, messenger of hope and liberty, sitting on a branch, ready to fly, to call for peace and love between peoples. And, finally, a crescent moon, a symbol of Islam.
Who is sculptor Hedva Ser?
Hedva Ser is a French artist who was born in Israel. Her artistic work spans tapestry, jewelry, and painting, but she is best known for her powerful sculptures. Her sculptures are inspired by nature and created to promote peace and tolerance.
Since 2007, she has been installing her Tree of Peace sculpture around the world, as part of her efforts to promote peace among people and harmony between nations. In 2011, Ser was named a UNESCO “Artist for Peace,” and in 2017, she was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Special Envoy for Cultural Diplomacy.
However, individuals granted the titles of “Goodwill Ambassador” or “Artist for Peace” are not official UNESCO staff. Their role is to raise awareness about UNESCO’s programs through their work. Once appointed, these personalities agree to use their talent and fame to carry UNESCO’s values and goals. The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors’ program also increases the visibility of UNESCO’s actions to make them more widely known to decision-makers and the general public, and, in some cases, to raise funds.
