Islamists destroy Timbuktu religious treasures

[rug]

Updated July 01, 2012 00:38:37

Hardline Islamists occupying northern Mali have gone on a rampage in Timbuktu, destroying ancient tombs of Muslim saints and threatening to wipe out every religious shrine in the fabled city.

The onslaught by armed militants from the fundamentalist Ansar Dine group was launched just two days after UNESCO named the city an endangered world heritage site because of the unrest in the vast desert north of Mali.

"They have raped Timbuktu today. It is a crime," said a source close to a local imam in the town known as the "City of 333 Saints".

Witnesses said the Islamists had destroyed the ancient tomb of one revered Muslim figure after encircling a cemetery in the north of the Timbuktu, and were on the attack against another in the east on Saturday.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-30/islamists-destroy-timbuktu-religious-treasures/4102688

[dimbear]

1. A bit more on this: destructors explain "because idolatry."

The normal and rather tired refrain.

One rather special artifact was a door which by tradition was to remain closed until the end of time. That was broken open, and I must admit I am disappointed that time has continued.

All this reminds me of the remarkable preservation of the Hagia Sophia, and the very remarkable destruction of the Temple of Serapis--both notable events. (Stefan Zweig chronicled the Hagia Sophia story. In English his record is called 'The Destruction of Byzantium' or the like.)

edit: more proof I cannot spell

[rug]

2. It reminds me of the destruction of the Buddhas in Afghanistan.

[dimbear]

3. Hardliners now reporting they have destroyed half of all the shrines in Timbuktu.

Beautiful and mystic Timbuktu, you have fallen on hard times.