The destruction of the Rawze-e-Sharif; a symbol of the Taliban’s indifference to Afghanistan’s historical heritage.
Newly released images of the historic Rawze-e of the Rawze-e-Sharif in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif show the widespread destruction of this ancient monument;
Rawze-e-Sharif attributed to Imam Ali and for centuries considered not only a symbol of culture and history, but also a spiritual center for the people of northern Afghanistan.
In the images, which were published on social media on Friday, July 25, parts of the tilework, walls and architectural decorations of this place have collapsed and clear signs of erosion and neglect can be seen.
According to a report by media, quoting a tourist, no effective action has been taken to preserve or restore this historical monument by local authorities or the Taliban government.
According to him, even basic cleaning of the shrine has been neglected.
The Taliban authorities’ apparent indifference to this historical monument comes at a time when the over 500-year-old Rawze-e-Sharif was built during the reign of Sultan Hussain Bayaqara, one of the Timurid kings, and is considered an important part of the historical and architectural identity of the Timurid era.
This is not the first time that concerns have been raised about the destruction of the Rawze-e-Sharif. In recent years, numerous reports have been published about the worrying situation of this place;
However, no response or practical action has been taken by the Taliban authorities.
The Taliban, who have ruled the country for nearly four years, not only do not have a brilliant record in protecting historical monuments, but also have a history of destroying such monuments—from the Buddha statues in Bamiyan to the Rawze-e-Sharif in Balkh.
The continuation of this situation is not only a cultural disaster, but also a symbol of ignoring the historical memory of the Afghan nation;
A memory that is being forgotten and destroyed under the shadow of the current rulers’ irresponsibility and ideological outlook.
