Destruction of Buddhist Monuments in Afghanistan Protested

March 13, 2001

   Political leaders and various religious organizations in Sri Lanka have joined the protest against the destruction of the Buddhist monuments and heritage in Afghanistan by the Taliban movement, according to reports by Lake House, with Lanka Internet Services, Ltd.
    The Palestinian Authority Parliamentary group met yesterday and unanimously adopted a proposal to condemn the Taliban movement's act and urge them to stop their destruction of Buddha and other statues.
    The president of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine has written to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, to intervene and prevent the continuing devastation of priceless Buddha objects.
    The Maha Bodhi Society of India organized some religious ceremonies in Calcutta, Saranath, Buddha Gaya and in all its centers, to pay homage to the Buddha statues and Buddhist monuments destroyed by Taliban hardliners in Afghanistan.
    A demand to stop the radical demolition of historic statues has been made by The World Fellowship of Buddhists, Sri Lanka Regional Center, in a communication to the Taliban Militia's supreme leader Amirul Mominun Mullah Mohammed Omar, to UNESCO's director-general, and to the secretary-general of the U.N.
    Joining with the international community in condemning these acts are The Islamic Youth Council, The Federation of Kandy Muslim Organizations, the Aziz Democratic Workers Congress and the National Council of Young Men's Muslim Associations of Sri Lanka.
    The Ahanti Padanama also has written to Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the U.N., requesting at least "to bring to world attention this grave sacrilege and remember it for the future generations."

--Used by permission of Religion Today

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Afghanistan Threatens Death for Converts

Tuesday, January 9, 2001

    Citizens of Afghanistan who convert from Islam to another religion will be punished by death, the Taliban's supreme leader declared. Mullah Mohammed Omar announced on the Taliban's Radio Shariat that those who leave Islam or those who induce others to do so would be killed, according to The Associated Press.
    Omar said Christians and Jews in Afghanistan are trying to win Muslims to their faiths by criticizing the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law. "The enemies of Muslims are trying to eliminate pure religion throughout the world," he said. The Taliban, which rules about 95 percent of Afghanistan, enforces harsh religious laws, including forbidding women to work or to attend school past the age of 8, forcing men to wear beards and to attend daily prayers, and outlawing most entertainment including television and music, the AP reported.
    Adherents of other faiths will be allowed to practice their religion. Sikhs and Hindus worship in Kabul and a Jewish rabbi still resides in the city, although most Jews have left, according to AP. There are a few Christian house churches but little is known about them, according to a missionary to the region.

--Used by permission of Religion Today