October 19, 2005

Taliban official responsible for destruction of Bamiyan Buddhas elected to Afghan Parliament

Democracy On The March and Tiny Minority of Extremists Updates: "Ex-Governor Elected to Afghan Parliament," from AP, with thanks to Teri:

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A former regional governor who oversaw the destruction of two massive 1,500-year-old Buddha statues during the Taliban's reign was elected to the Afghan parliament last month, officials said Tuesday as results from two provinces were finalized....

Mawlawi Mohammed Islam Mohammadi, who was the Taliban's governor of Bamiyan province when the fifth-century Buddha statues were blown up with dynamite and artillery in March 2001, was chosen to represent the neighboring province of Samangan, according to results posted by the U.N.-Afghan election organizers. Election law did not bar former Taliban officials from participating in the Sept. 18 polls.