Forget that these Budda statutes were centuries old and represented another religion.......they were "offensive to Islam."
AMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Afghanistan's Taleban has destroyed two giant Buddhas carved into a cliff centuries ago, pictures obtained by CNN show.
United Nations officials confirmed the claims made by the Taleban, which announced last month it would destroy images deemed
"offensive to Islam." But no photographs of the demolition were available until Monday.
It is abominable to witness the cold and calculated destruction of cultural properties which were the heritage of the Afghan people, and, indeed, of the whole of humanity," Matsuura said in a written statement Monday.
"Everything possible must be done to stop further destruction. I have asked my special envoy to continue his mission and explore all avenues that may allow for the safeguarding of other treasures of Afghanistan's pre-Islamic heritage," he said.
Anti-Muslim backlash feared
Matsuura urged the international community not to take its anger at the Taleban action out on Muslim sites elsewhere.
"As inexcusable as this action is, I hope that it will not provide fanatics elsewhere with an excuse for acts of destruction targeting Muslim cultural properties," he said. "
This was happening back in March 2001. Just a few months before we were so viciously attacked.
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/a...han.buddha.02/