A monument to Alisher Navoi was destroyed in Afghanistan two days before the 582th anniversary of his birthday, the Nova24.uz portal reports.
The incident took place in northern Afghanistan in Mazar-i-Sharif. In the place where there used to be a bas-relief of the famous poet, now there is a white wall, which is not connected with the Taliban's love for Suprematism: in Afghanistan there is a policy of "fighting idols", which are prohibited in Islam, the portal writes.
The Afghan National Resistance Council, which is in opposition to the interim Taliban government, called what is happening a war on Afghan history and culture, which leads to ethnic, linguistic and political tension.
The famous oriental poet Alisher Navoi was born in Herat in Afghanistan in 1441, when this territory was under the control of the Timurids.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan reacted to the incident with the destruction of the monument to one of the most eminent figures of Uzbek culture.
We regretted the news of the damage to the bas-relief and graffiti of the great poet Alisher Navoi in Afghanistan. Uzbek diplomats contacted the Afghan side, who assured that this act of vandalism in no way reflects the policy of the Taliban, spokesman Akhror Burkhanov.
In addition, the Foreign Ministry said that the Taliban expressed its commitment to strengthening centuries-old friendly relations with fraternal Uzbekistan, and the destruction of the monument was an unauthorized and thoughtless act of unknown persons.
The Afghan side will take measures to restore monuments and ensure respect for the common heritage, Akhror Burkhanov said.
Earlier, Uzbekistan had to explain itself to the Taliban for blackouts. In Afghanistan, they said that the stoppage of supplies caused problems for the population.
Alisher Navoi is deeply revered in Central Asia and is considered the greatest Uzbek poet, thinker and statesman of the 15th century.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 16, 2023