UNESCO APPEALS FOR THE SAFEGUARD OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF AFGHANISTAN

Bamiyan Buddha (1970) prior to damage. More photos are available here for  unrestricted use.

Paris, February 26 (No.2001-27) - UNESCO is appealing for the preservation of cultural heritage landmarks in Afghanistan following press reports of the deliberate destruction by the Taliban of over a dozen ancient statues in the Afghan National Museum in Kabul and of an order by the supreme Taliban leader to destroy all statues in Afghanistan which, as human representations, the Taliban view as non-Islamic.

Afghanistan, situated at a crucial junction on the ancient Silk Roads, has a unique cultural heritage, which reflects a history marked by the complex influences of Persia, Greece, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. It includes among its many treasures the 5th century monumental Buddhist statues of Bamiyan carved in the rock. The age-old heritage has increasingly suffered from the conflicts and disasters that have plagued the country in recent times. The irreplaceable collections of the Kabul Museum, which came under attack in 1995 and 1996, have been subject to theft and vandalism.

Once again UNESCO strongly appeals to those directly concerned to stop the destruction of the cultural heritage of the peoples of Afghanistan, which forms their identity, and to ensure that this heritage is preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

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