Taliban defies the world and starts demolishing Buddha statues 
[02 Mar 2001]

The Taliban militia of Afghanistan is reported to have begun destroying all statues in the country, including the world's tallest standing Buddha statue, defying international protests and appeals.

According to reports from Kabul, Taliban soldiers have started wrecking these ancient statues in the Kabul museum and elsewhere in the provinces of Ghazni, Herat, Jalalabad and Kandahar from yesterday, using everything from rocket launchers to tanks. 

The head of UNESCO appealed to other Islamic nations to pressure the Taliban. UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura expressed shock over the destruction of ancient statues that the entire world considers to be masterpieces.

Taliban's Information Minister Qadratullah Jamal said yesterday, ''All officials, including the ministry of vice and virtue, have been given the go-ahead to destroy the statues".

''The destruction work will be done by any means available to them.''

''All the statues all over the country will be destroyed,'' he said.

Reports say that it was impossible to confirm what Taliban troops had destroyed so far, particularly whether they had begun demolishing the two huge Buddha statues at Baumiyan. 

Contact Information: Send mail to webmaster@priu.gov.lk with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: December 22, 2003.

International pressure mounts on Taliban's order
01/03/2001

Taliban death sentence to Buddhist art 
28/02/2001