Statement by the Institute for Afghan Studies

March 01, 2001

The latest edict regarding the destruction of Bamyan statues and other
pre-Islamic artifacts will be a cultural tragedy without question, if
and when implemented. We Afghans have to speak out in one voice to save
us and future generations from the deliberate destruction of priceless
historic artifacts that represent the soul and identity of Afghans
everywhere in the world.  This particular edict of the Taliban, which
clearly has no basis in Islamic Sharia, will result in irreparable
damage to Afghan and indeed to world history and heritage.

Taliban must understand that the statues are not symbols or idols
worshiped by the people of Afghanistan, whose overwhelming majority are
Muslims.  Rather the statues represent great achievements of Afghans and
their long history and testify to the tolerance of Islam and Muslims of
Afghanistan.   Destroying historical artifacts would damage Afghan
history and heritage and we Afghans and the world would be the losers
of this reckless and un-Islamic act.

So to save our cultural heritage, we call upon all Afghans to make their
concerns known to the concerned authorities and to do so promptly. The
historic significance of the event also calls on us Afghans to raise
above pity personal and factional quarrels and to act in accordance with
our national interests, while there is still time to act so.  Similarly,
the international community must act swiftly and help save the supreme
statues and invaluable artifacts, which belong to the history of
mankind.


Press Release from the Institute for Afghan Studies