Islamists Damage Giant Rock Buddha

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 10-11-2007 | Ben Quinn

[blam]

Islamists damage giant rock Buddha

By Ben Quinn
Last Updated: 2:11am BST 11/10/2007

Islamist radicals in Pakistan have attempted to destroy an ancient carving of Buddha by drilling holes in the rock and filling them with dynamite.

The Buddha is thought to date from the seventh century AD

The 23ft high image was damaged during the attack, which brought back memories of the Taliban's destruction six years ago of the giant Buddhas at Bamiyan, in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The Buddha, in the Swat district of north-west Pakistan, is thought to date from the seventh century AD and was considered the largest in Asia, after the two Bamiyan Buddhas.

The explosion on Monday night damaged the upper part of the rock.

Pakistani troops have stepped up recent operations against militants in the fertile Swat valley, where thousands of locals are in thrall to Mullah Fazlullah, a rabble-rousing cleric who has called for suicide attacks and holy war. Fazlullah's men have continued to wage an offensive against what they deem 'un-Islamic' activity, last week blowing up dozens of music, video and cosmetics stalls at a market.

US intelligence officials claim that al-Qa'eda has also been able to extend its influence to the region from beyond lawless tribal areas of Pakistan.

[mnehring]

Once again, the ‘ROP’ tries to destroy a real religion of peace.

[ought-six]

islam...the most destructive ideology in history.

[ought-six]

islam...the most destructive ideology in history.

[Kolokotronis]

Not to worry. Pres. Bush tells us that these people worship the same God as we do.

[mylife]

I hate these people

[popdonnelly]

They’d do it to your church or synagogue, too, if they could.

[popdonnelly]

“Pres. Bush tells us that these people worship the same God as we do.”

Perhaps he’s being optimistic.

[rineaux]

The Taliban did the same thing before being ousted.

[Travis McGee]

Islam is an insane murder cult. It even tries to murder the greatest treasures and memories of humanity.

[hinckley buzzard]

What else do we expect by now. Primitive ignorant savages acting like primitive ignorant savages. Gee whaddasupprise.

[mnehring]

First they came for themselves, with infighting and destroying what they considered imperfect sects.

Then they came for the Hindus.

Then the Jews.

Then the Christian Coptics in Egypt.

Then the Africans.

Then the mystics.

Then the Jews again.

Then the Christians again.

Then the Buddhists.

.. no one is safe, not even other Muslims who disagree on where a period should be located in the Koran.

[doc1019]

From folks that worship a rock (hejaz), why would they destroy another rock? After all, rocks are rocks.

[pwatson]

ISLAM the worst invention of humans

[wideminded]

[doc1019]

After all, boys will be boys. What would they do with all their free time, as it were, if it were not for their penchant for blowing things up, cutting off heads, destroying the religious symbols of others and generally raising hell.

Of course, they could spend all this miscreant energy pursuing gainful employment, prospering and generally making something of themselves, however, boys will be boys.

Ragheads, got’a love’m. ;-)

[pandoraou812]

These b@stards destroy everything they can.

[poindexter]

They’d do it to your church or synagogue, too, if they could.

With the faithful in it.

[Fiji Hill]

Hail to the sultan!

[Shaun_MD]

Stupid savages. Of course it’s a religion that espouses peace and enlightenment so it has to go.