Taliban Afghans destroy Bamiyan Buddhas but cry foul about Mohammed Cartoons

As was to be expected, the Danish Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy sparked outrage amongst Afghans who are starving to 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 and pleaded with the Taleban not to destroy the two Bamyan Buddhas in 2001.

Even the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - the three countries that officially recognised the Taleban - requested that the monuments be spared. Yet it was to no avail. After a month's bombardment, the statues were destroyed, though the outlines still remain. This was how the Taleban completely disregarded the religious rights of Buddhists, as well as the calls by the international community to cease the destruction of two statues that were built during the 6th century.

Japan and Switzerland, among others, have pledged support to rebuild the statues, and the remnants of them have been included in the 2008 World Monuments watch list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. Incidentally, Mawlawi Mohammed Islam Mohammadi, the Taleban governor who was said to have been responsible for the destruction of the monuments, was elected to the Afghan parliament in September 2005 but was gunned down on January 26, 2007 in Kabul on his way to prayers.

Buddhists can empathise with the Afghans vis-a-vis any humiliation to their religion and their beliefs, but it does also require similar empathy from Afghans for the beliefs held by other religious groups. The Taleban cannot undo the historical damage they did in 2001 - unlike a comic or a film that can be shelved following successful protests. This is a good reminder that all of us, while upholding our faith, also need to show tolerance and respect to the faiths and beliefs of others.