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107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 30

Condemning the destruction of pre-Islamic statues in Afghanistan by the 
                            Taliban regime.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 30, 2001

  Mr. Akaka (for himself, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Wellstone) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Condemning the destruction of pre-Islamic statues in Afghanistan by the 
                            Taliban regime.

Whereas many of the oldest and most significant Buddhist statues in the world 
        have been located in Afghanistan, which, at the time that many of the 
        statues were carved, was one of the most cosmopolitan regions in the 
        world and hosted merchants, travelers, and artists from China, India, 
        Central Asia, and the Roman Empire;
Whereas such statues have been part of the common heritage of mankind, and such 
        cultural treasures must be preserved for future generations;
Whereas on February 26, 2001, the leader of the Taliban regime, Mullah Mohammad 
        Omar, reversed his regime's previous policy and ordered the destruction 
        of all pre-Islamic statues in Afghanistan, among them a pair of 1,600-
        year-old 175-foot-tall and 120-foot-tall statues carved out of a 
        mountainside at Bamiyan, one of which is believed to have been the 
        world's largest statue of a standing Buddha;
Whereas the religion of Islam and Buddhist statues have co-existed in 
        Afghanistan as part of the unique historical and cultural heritage of 
        that nation for more than 1,100 years;
Whereas the destruction of the pre-Islamic statues contradicts the basic tenet 
        of the Islamic faith that other religions should be treated with 
        respect, a tenet encapsulated in the Qur'anic verses, ``There is no 
        compulsion in religion'' and ``Unto you your religion, and unto me my 
        religion'';
Whereas people of many faiths and nationalities have condemned the destruction 
        of the statues in Afghanistan, including many Muslim theologians, 
        communities, and governments around the world;
Whereas the Taliban regime has previously demonstrated its lack of respect for 
        international norms by its brutal repression of women, its widespread 
        violation of human rights, its hinderance of humanitarian relief 
        efforts, and its support for terrorists groups throughout the world; and
Whereas the destruction of the statues violates the United Nations Convention 
        Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 
        which was ratified by Afghanistan on March 20, 1979: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) joins with people and governments around the world in 
        condemning the destruction of pre-Islamic statues in 
        Afghanistan by the Taliban regime;
            (2) urges the Taliban regime to stop destroying such 
        statues; and
            (3) calls upon the Taliban regime to grant the United 
        Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization and 
        other international organizations immediate access to 
        Afghanistan to survey the damage and facilitate international 
        efforts to preserve and safeguard the remaining statues.
                                 &lt;all&gt;

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