Taliban Defends destruction of ancient Buddha statues

[muslim]

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Published Monday, March 19, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News

Taliban defends destruction of ancient Buddha statues

BY BARBARA CROSSETTE
New York Times

With outrage still fresh around the world over the destruction of two giant Buddha statues in Afghanistan, a Taliban envoy says the Islamic government made its decision in a rage after a foreign delegation offered money to preserve the ancient works while a million Afghans faced starvation.

``When your children are dying in front of you, then you don't care about a piece of art,'' said Sayed Rahmatullah Hashimi.

Rahmatullah is in the United States on a mission to improve ties and ease the Taliban's isolation. A main focus of his visit, he said, will be to find a way out of the impasse surrounding Osama bin Laden, who is suspected of terrorism and whose presence in Afghanistan has prompted international sanctions. He is to meet officials of the State Department and the National Security Council today in Washington.

Still, Rahmatullah expressed no remorse over the demolition of two Buddhas, carved from a cliff in central Afghanistan 1,400 years ago.

An adviser to the Taliban leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, Rahmatullah gave for the first time the Taliban's version of events: how a council of religious scholars ordered the statues destroyed in a fit of indignation.

The destruction, he said, was prompted last month when a visiting delegation of mostly European envoys and a U.N. representative offered money to protect the giant standing Buddhas at Bamiyan, where the Taliban was engaged in fighting opposition forces.

Other reports, however, have said the religious leaders debated the move for months and ultimately decided the statues were idolatrous and should be obliterated.

At the time the foreign delegation visited, U.N. officials were warning that up to a million Afghans faced starvation after a long drought and a harsh winter. Rahmatullah said that when the visitors offered money to repair and maintain the statues, the Taliban's mullahs were outraged.

``The scholars told them that instead of spending money on statues, why didn't they help our children who are dying of malnutrition? They rejected that, saying, `This money is only for statues.' ''

``The scholars were so angry,'' he said. ``They said, `If you are destroying our future with economic sanctions, you can't care about our heritage.' And so they decided that these statues must be destroyed.''
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[Freestyler']

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``The scholars were so angry,'' he said. ``They said,
`If you are destroying our future with economic sanctions, you can't care about our heritage.' And so they decided that these statues must be destroyed.''
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Hahaha, so it is now the rest of the world who is destroying the future of Afghanistan!?!?!
Taleban had better learn how to gain respect of the world so that the rest of the world would wish to trade with them. Harbouring Bin Laden, IMU, extremist camps, destroying heritage of the humankind will certainly never help those starving poor people and will only discredit taleban

So what now? Taleban will blackmail the civilised world by threatening to destroy the statues? (by the way is there any left?) Pathetic Taleban! (Not because they are muslims, but because they are vandals, overproud of themselves and egoistic (if not stupid as well).

<Mahmud>, can you explain the rationale of destroying the statues? I see it as only being radical and intolerent Islamism. AFAIK, statues of any kind are not welcomed by Islam. So does this mean that Islamists have a right to destroy the statues belonging to other cultures and religions?
How did you feel when you learned that Israel was going to destroy Al-aqsa, huh? Now It is the same way the civilised world feels about the statues.

Keep it Sober

[Lucky]

Al-Aqsa will be destroyed? hehe you funny. We know that Mecca will be destroyed, and we know that we gonna shed the bloods of the enemeis if islam in Jeruslalem with the arrival of Jesus(pbuh) , but I've never heard about the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque. I do not know what would I do in that situation, so probabaly cant say what others would do. Ask your father, if you have him still alive, whether he fought or not in Afghanistan. My father did, and he admits that they were invaders. Basically, your ****** Seculars started the war. And you blaming for that taleban?! I cant stop myself from laughing. Taleban came into existense in 1996, update your information on taleban, won't hurt :)
Cheers, :)

[muslim]

Freestyler,

could u please list some of the major players of which you call "the civilized world"?

thanks.

[nobody]

Freestyler.
I just want to remind you that there is not such kinda word "Islamists". I think you want to say " Muslims".
The word "Islamists" is created by stupid and proud unbelievers. If somebody uses this word to refer to Muslims, it means that he/she is also one of them.

Thank you for attention
nobody

[Freestyler@]

<Lucky>, I was not addressing you. And what are you talking about?!?!?! Please stay within the topic. But if you want my opinion, I blame both Soviet Union and not to a lesser extent the US in what is now going on in Afghanistan.
==================

<Mahmud>, you did not answer my question. I asked you to explain the rationale of the taleban's destruction of the statues, but you evaded the answer and instead asked me a question.
I will give you my answer when you give me yours.

====================
<Nobody>, I used the word "islamists" to refer to that group of muslims who are radical and intolerant to other cultures and religions, as well as Islamic extremists. It's no surprise that muslims don't like this word. Of course, muslim brotherhood must have forobidden them to reveal bad things about other brothers to non-brothers. So-called cohesive brotherhood?! I personally find it mean and pathetic.

Tell me how you want me to refer to that group of muslims and I will use it for your convinience, because it really does not matter for me what word to use, it's enough that you understand what I mean. Or maybe you want to say that there are no such people among muslims, huh?

[nobody]

Freestyler.
As for them, they are Talibans, you know it very well.
And let me advise you something. Dont speak about Brotherhood in Islam. Even not all Muslims do understand it very well. We are not interested in what do you think about our Brotherhood. Keep it for yourself. It prevents you doing funny conclusions like above.

nobody

[Freestyler@]

First, <nobody>, do you mean then that only taliban are "that group of muslims who are radical and intolerant to other cultures and religions"? (does the word taliban carry that meaning?)

Second, because I can't force you to care about what others think about muslim brotherhood, you may carry on disregarding others and think that you're the only rightous in this world.
But you will not and have no right whatsoever to ban me from telling my attitude towards muslim brotherhood.

[Lucky]

Freestyler,
If in any way, I confused you, I beg your pardon. We are not saying taleban did right destroying Statutes according to secular opinion. In my opinion Mahmud was trying to say so called Humanitarian Western countries were caring more about statutes than the Afghanis. Re-read the article he posted, it is not hard to figure out how close minded and cynic those people are. According to my own personal point of view, in that situation it was absolutely right to destroy the Statutes. Heck to those people who say,"This money is only for statues." . And another thing, do not you have anything to do than talking about taleban and all others, let's move on and change the topic. Are the Taleban talkin'g about you and what you doin? It is their internal affair, and their own business. When we destroyed, "tovarish lenins" none bothered in Afghanistan, it would be nice if we also did not bother with that. We have enough problems that need to be solved.
Cheers, :)

[Javanmard]

All this Islamic brotherhood crap makes me want to puke!! And this guy Mahmud from the States talking about Islam...shuttup!! If you like Islam so much go to Afghanistan...Its not fair for you to talk about how good the Taliban is and at the same time enjoy the fruits of living in the west...Its not fair to those of us who have to live in Islamic countries and face bullshit everyday....I suggest you shut your trap and fly to Afghanistan...live with them for a few years and then send us an e-mail...oops sorry..those animals think that is evil as well...oh, well you can send us a letter....

As for all you Talibanis and Hizb ut Tahriris I have a few things to say.....you are hypocrites and liar....you who live in England and the States, and Canada...you have no right to open your mouth about Islamic government...you who live in comfort, and freedom, who have the right to open your mouth..If a poor Afghan says he is against the Taliban he will be killed immediatly...if you open your mouth against the government where you live you are safe from reprisal...which system is better??? don't be fooled by all this Islam and the Sunnah bullshit...Islam is a religon and I have the utmost respect for it...but it is not a political system...don't argue with me on this...no matter how much you try to say that its a total way of life..its not a political system....you don't know anything about how much this system would be corrupt and archaic if brought back..

I think that the Taliban should be destroyed and I am trying to open a bank account to fund their enemies...the Hizb ut tahrir must also be annihilated before they actually fool people into believing their lies...

Always remember, with Islamic groups, take what they say now...all their promises of what they will do, take that and multiply it by 20 in terms of harshness and that is what there government will really be like....

[Akhee-Abdullah]

Thanks Javanmard, for all those compliments, especially this one ,"don't be fooled by all this Islam and the Sunnah bullshit , I can see how tolerant this people can be huh...I think that the Taliban should be destroyed and I am trying to open a bank account to fund their enemies It would be better if you send them a pieace of loaf, Freak. Who is Terrorist now? This Mentally ill Freak or Taleban?! It was not necessary to say this after all that crap Islam is a religon and I have the utmost respect for it. Anyways take a shower if possible :), and next time wash your mouth before uttering Islam or Sunnah otherwise you really stink, PUNK, I can understand may be you are undergoing a depression :) BTW, forgot, Talk to your doctor next time before posting, LOL. Say hello to PanAryans from Anti Aryan-iNazi and Anti-Nationalism brother in Islaam, with respect and admiration
Cheers, :)

[Javanmard]

Hi Lucky,

what an appropriate name!!!

Let me clue you in on something...I have heard all of you rag-heads say..."no one is above Allahs word" we must follow the rules of God no matter what, blah blah blah....

Let me ask you "punk" who the hell are you to tell me what the word of God is?? You and the rest of the bottom feeders think they know what God wants and have the right to impose it by force......

Most (if not all the Quran) is open to interpretation...the truth depends on the eye of the reader, that is why the Islamic governments in Saudia Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan all differ so much...You think you right, the Saudis will say they are right...The Ismaili muslims say they are right...the Islamic Jihad say they are right.....

What I am trying to say is that it is all a matter of personal choice....

The Taliban and Hizb ul my kir.....and you for that matter can go mount each other....you have NO RIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT ALLAH'S WORD IS....YOU THINK YOU ARE SOME KIND OF MESSENGER FROM HEAVEN OR SOMETHING???

You are a wannabe...and I have no tolerance for wannabes...you think you have figured Islam out??? Go tell your mother.....leave the people who what to progress and evolve alone...

CHEERS :)

[Akhee-Abdullah]

As far as interpretation of Quran, all you said was BS. If you think you can understand with your red head you are in a big trouble. We understand the Quran according to the way prophet Muhammad explained to us, hehe, our Scholars have done a great job to collect those sayings and preserve it. Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafee, and Imam Hanbaliy and his student Imam Bukhariy, Bukhariy's student Tirmdhiy mentioning few are the castle of Islamic knowledge. You come some time at the end of the 20th century, take quran and read and say " I understand" It is BS, heh, in other words without ADULT SUPERVISION you are nobody try hard you might renovate your Great Aryan nation, and good luck to you in that way. But Rememer, Muslims are not gonna be an obstacle on your way. Russia and China are too big to let you build your Nazi State.
Former Commy, Freestyler's friend (I hope he won't offended for using his nick, if yes " Freestyler, I apologise in advance, I am just makin a joke"), from Former Commy Uzbekistan,
Cheers, :)

[Freestyler@]

Chill down, guys, there is really no need to argue on the matter that ultiamtely has no fair solution.

<Lucky>, I know enough Javanmard to say that he is none of what you said he is: neither wahabi, nor jihadi, nor panIranian and no antiturkoman. Stop provoking inter-national disputes! I think Allah won't forgive you that. Check out your message box.

Cheers ;)

[Akhee-Abdullah]

Thanks Freestyler, you are the only guy who can understand me here :), how can I check my mail box , lemme know thanks,
Cheers, :)

[Freestyler@]

I don't know. I've just sent you an e-mail by using the icon to the left.

[Freestyler@]

"you are the only guy who can understand me here " (Lucky)
oh seriously, am I? I haven't noticed that much ;)

[Akhee-Abdullah]

Thanks, I got no mail from you. email me at uzhamza@hotmail.com
Cheers, :)

[Freestyler@]

Have you got it now? Let me know

Cheers

[Javanmard]

Lucky,

Who do you mean "we"??

All these guys you mentioned do not have universal following...Bukhari is not universally recognised.........

Stop lying and telling people your message is the universal truth...its only the truth for a certain percentage....You can't push you ideas....Islamic facism is still facism...alright...and I don't have redhair...its dark brown.....

so take your Imam Hillbilly and whatever and stuff 'em...they are not Prophets and you have no right to push this junk on us.....alright???

Cheers :)