[LETTER #7]
DATE: APRIL 2001
NAME: MIRZA HUSSEIN: HAZARA MUSLIM
ORIGIN: BAMIYAN
LANGUAGE: DARI
TYPE: APOLOGY
The Taliban have made it impossible to live in Bamiyan, and the lack of international support make it hard to go elsewhere. The people of Bamiyan were asking for protection from the United Nations for these collosal Buddhas as a means to protect them from the wicked Taliban, but no help was given until it was too late. The Taliban do not consider me and my people Muslims because we have a long history in this valley, and appreciate the foundations on which this valley first began, with many different people with different origins and race, lived side by side, focusing on Buddhism as their core. The Taliban forced me to take part in destroying these statues, and for that I am truly sorry. I was under guard the entire time, and many other Hazaras saw the Taliban carting in explosives and setting up target sites. Everyone in the world is responsible for this loss, not just the Taliban. There should have been more we could have done to protect this meaningful part of our shared world history.
Mirza Hussein’s story is told at 6:27 in this YouTube clip:
Relevant Pictures:
[LETTER #8]
DATE: APRIL 2001
NAME: DR. ZEMARYALAI TARZI; WORLD RENOWN ARCHEOLOGIST
ORIGIN: AFGHANISTAN
LANGUAGE: PERSIAN
TYPE: VIDEO DOCUMENTARY
This is a devastating loss for the people of Afghanistan, and for the entire world. My daughther will not know of the beauty of this valley as I have, and this is very frustrating.
Dr. Tarzi’s reaction is documented in this video at 4:27:
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