Afghans can destroy the Bamyan Buddha but cry foul over comics against Koran

by Shenali Waduge

Afghans can destroy the Bamyan Buddha but cry foul over comics against Koran

Afghans are protesting against cartoons & a film comparing the Koran to Hitler’s “Mein Kempf”. As was to be expected it has sparked an outrage amongst the Afghans who are starving unto death while others are as usual burning effigies. Their demand being that the international community respect their religious beliefs.

This being the case, it immediately calls to mind how the world community stood alongside the Buddhists of the world & pleaded with the Taliban not to destroy the two Bamyan Buddhas in 2001.


Even the gathering of 54 member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference which included Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & the UAE, the three countries that officially recognized the Taliban government requested that the monuments be spared – yet it was to no avail. The disregard of the Taliban was such that following the failure of dynamite & anti-aircraft guns & artillery, the Taliban resorted to placing anti-tank mines – finally after a month’s bombardment the statues were destroyed though the outlines still remain. This was how the Taliban completely disregarded the religious rights of the Buddhists as well as the calls by the international community to cease the destruction of two statues that stood over 2500 meters in height & was built during the 6th century. Japan & Switzerland among others have pledged support to rebuild the statues & the remnants of the Bamyan have been included in the 2008 World Monuments Watch list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites by the World Monuments Fund. Incidentally, Mawlawi Mohammed Islam Mohammadi, the Taliban Governor of the Bamyan province who was said to have been responsible for the destruction of the 2 monuments was elected to the Afghan Parliament in September 2005 but was gunned down on 26 January 2007 in Kabul on his way to prayers.

As Buddhists we can empathize with the Afghans vis a vis any humiliation to their religion & their beliefs, but it does also require similar empathy from Afghans for the beliefs held by other religious groups as well. The Taliban cannot undo the historical damage they did in 2001 unlike a comic or a film that can be shelved following any successful protests.

This also sets a good reminder that all of us while upholding our faith also need to at the same time show tolerance & respect to the faiths & beliefs of others.