Around the emergence of Islam, the Kabul Shahan dynasty, a remnant of the small Kushanids, ruled ancient Kabul and its surrounding areas. King Ratbil Shah (or Zanbil Shah), a king of this line, a very cruel tyrant. To stop attacks from abroad, the Shah decided to build a high wall around the city. Therefore he forced all the youth of the city to build the wall as soon as possible.

So, the youngsters of the city were working very hard under the watchfull eye of wardens supervising the construction of the wall. If anyone refused to work, he was buried alive in the walls. Thousands of youth fell victims to the tyranny of the evil king. The wall that still remains today on the Shirdarwaza and Aasmae mountains is a reminder of that dark era.

The legend goes like this: One of the slaves, a young handsome man who was working on the wall, suffering from exhaustion, hunger and the burning sun, had never complained for the cruel life he had, although he was devastated because he could not see his beloved. He was just looking forward to his release. The time of his wedding came and asked from the wardens several times to give him a days' leave in order to get married. Unfortunately, they kept on turning down his request. Then he received a letter from his fiancée in which she wrote:

"I do not want to marry a person like you. You submitted yourself to the tyrant and did not show courage. You are a coward and not fit to be called a man."

Later on, the girl decided that she should do something about it. So, one day she joined the workers, saying to the wardens that she was covering for her brother who had fallen ill. She was working very hard carrying bricks, stones and fetching water without complaining. Everybody was amazed with her strength and courage.

The following day the Shah arrived at the site to inspect the development of the project. He started inspecting each slave one by one until he topped at the girl. He was surprised, but the girl covered her face with her vale. Then the king said:

"Oh girl, you have been working with all these men but at a single glance of mine, like the sun disappears in the clouds, you have concealed your face. Let me know why?"

The girl replied:

"The men you see are really women, but you are the only man present here. That is why I covered my face. If they are supposed to be men, how could they tolerate all your cruelty and oppression? How could they obey a tyrant like you?"

And as she finished her sentence, she threw a big stone at the king. The stone hit his chest and he fell on the ground. At this sight, all the slaves left their work and started celebrating. They praised the girl's courage and heroism and marched down the city where the celebrations continued for days.

The destruction of Bamiyan Buddha

The destruction of Bamiyan Buddha is one of the saddest events in Afghan history. It is quite inconceivable, how the Taleban would come to such an irrational and foolish decision to destroy a piece of Afghanistan.
Their argument that the presence of the Budda is somehow against Islam is not only nonsense but totally against Islam. Islam is one of the purest and richest religions in existence, only if it is practiced in the way it was intended. And not the way many Islamic countries interpret Islam, including the Taleban.
The destruction of the Buddhist statues in Bamiyan is one of the foolish and irresponsible acts committed by the Taleban. Their action shows not only disrespect for other religions, but also undermines Islam and gives Afghans a bad name. This is one instance where no rational Afghan in the world would support such a mindless act taken by the Taleban.
Despite the compelling realities facing Afghanistan today, the destruction of the Buddhist statues in Bamiyan by the Taleban is unforgivable. They have destroyed precious relics of the past, which is beyond their comprehension.

In today’s Afghanistan, human rights, like history, are luxury. They belong to rational men and to an unattained future.


Here is what the world had to say about the Taleban's Actions

Political and religious leaders across Asia and the rest of the world have, with few exceptions, expressed indignation at the Afghan Taleban's decision to destroy the Buddhist statues in Bamiyan:

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama:

"I am deeply concerned at the possible destruction of the Bamiyan statues of Buddha in Afghanistan at a time when there is a closer understanding and better harmony among different religious traditions of the world."

Spokesman for official Buddhist Association of China:

"Chinese Buddhist circles are concerned about this decision, which deeply offends the feelings of Buddhists. We urge the Taleban to halt this destructive act immediately."

Spokesman for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori:

"The Japanese Government is deeply concerned. Those statues are assets to all human beings."

ndian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee:

Those who are ruling Afghanistan are not Muslims, as this kind of an act can only be done by uncultured people... Such people have no regard for the feelings of humanity."

Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala:

"Why are we silent when Sri Lanka and other countries, including the US, are protesting against the demolition of Buddha statues in the present Islamic country? I want to condemn the Taleban government as the prime minister of Nepal from this platform."

Iranian Foreign Ministry:

"Unfortunately, the Taleban's destruction of the statues has cast doubts on the comprehensive views offered by Islamic ideology in the world. Clearly, Muslims across the world pin the blame on the rigid-minded Taleban and by no means embroil the Afghan Muslims in this counter-cultural move."

Foreign Ministry of Qatar, current chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference:

The Bamiyan statues "belong to the whole of mankind and they should be preserved".

G-8 statement after summit in Trieste:

A "deeply tragic decision".

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The above comment comes from the people whose opinion counts most. The Radio Afghanistan people.

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