By Amos Chapple Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 20, 2026 Restoration work under way on Afghanistan’s most famous minaret is the latest indication that the country’s Taliban rulers are taking a calculated approach to cultural heritage, in contrast to their statue-smashing predecessors of the 1990s, experts say. Images of work to safeguard the UNESCO-listed Minaret
Khaama: Following the devastating floods in Ghor province, concerns have increased over the potential collapse of the “Minaret of Jam,” an 800-year-old structure and the oldest mud-brick minaret in the world. Local sources in Ghor province report that recent floods have submerged the Minaret of Jam and nearly destroyed its protective walls. Click here to
A 12th-century mosque and minarets from 1417 are visibly cracked, with ornate tiles falling to the ground in Herat, Afghanistan. The ancient monuments had been neglected even before Afghanistan’s severe 6.3-magnitude earthquakes in October, in which more than 1,000 people died. Now the Herat monuments are showing significant signs of damage while the Taliban government
RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi November 26, 2021 Afghan experts say urgent action is needed to protect the famed Minaret of Jam after guards disappeared and critical damage became visible on the cultural treasure. An apparent stalemate between UNESCO and Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban-led government has left the Minaret of Jam unguarded and in immediate danger of collapse,