When the Taliban in Afghanistan decided to destroy the centuries-old Buddha statues in the Bamiyan Valley in 2001, the whole world was in turmoil. These beautiful, well-preserved statues were part of the World Heritage Site.
Bamiyan, Buddhism and the Silk Road
The city of Bamiyan is located more than 200 km northwest of Kabul in the central part of Afghanistan. The city is located in a valley that separates the mountain ranges of the Hindu Kush. Bamiyan was a center of Buddhist learning for more than five centuries, from the second century AD until Islam entered the region in the ninth century. On a cliff overlooking Bamian stood two enormous Buddha statues, with a smaller statue of a seated Buddha between them. Nearby were a variety of caves that had previously been used by the thriving Buddhist community in Bamyian. Bamiyan was also located on the Silk Road and was an important resting place on the long road between China and the Roman Empire.
The Buddha statues
The carving of the statues began in the second century under the patronage of Emperor Kanishka and was probably completed in the fourth or fifth century. The caves in the mountains of Bamiyan housed thousands of Buddhist monks and were also where travelers, pilgrims and traders slept. The caves were covered with paintings, work done during the same period in which the statues were carved. The space between the two standing Buddhas was about one kilometer and in between were the caves. The Buddha in the west was about 55 meters high, on this side you will find the most richly decorated caves. The Buddha in the east was about 38 meters high. Artistic influences from China to the Mediterranean can be found in the statues and paintings.
The Taliban and the images
Initially, the leader of the Taliban had spoken out in favor of preserving the Buddhas, seeing them as a possible source of income for Afghanistan. Moreover, there were no Buddhists left in Afghanistan to worship the statues. However, religious leaders began a campaign against ‘un-Islamic practices’, things such as music, sports and even television were deemed incompatible with Islam and subsequently banned. A council of 400 clerics decided that the Buddhas were un-Islamic and therefore should be destroyed. The entire world, including countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, countries that recognized the Taliban regime, expressed their concern and the desire to keep the statues intact. And although many Afghans could not make their voices heard, they were also shocked by the Taliban’s intentions.
Destruction of the statues
The destruction of the images started in March 2001. Initially they were shot at, but when that proved insufficient, mines were laid at the foot of the statues. Eventually, men descended and placed explosives in the punched holes. It took a month for the statues to be vandalized as required. The regime made it appear as if it was a purely religious decision, with Islam encouraging the destruction of idols. Foreign sources saw it as an opportunity for revenge for economic sanctions.
Comments
On March 12, 2001, UNESCO officially announced that the statues had been destroyed by the Taliban regime. The UNESCO spokesperson spoke of it as a ‘crime against culture’ and an irreversible loss for the world. The Japanese government and several other organizations have now agreed to try to restore the statues to their former glory. The statues or what is left of them are now on the World Monuments Fund’s list of the top 100 most endangered monuments.
More information about Afghanistan can be found in the Special Afghanistan.