Islamism - 7

[dhu]

Taliban blows up poet’s shrine

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->PESHAWAR: Islamist terrorists in Pakistan blew up the mausoleum of a 17th century poet revered in both Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday, apparently because women visited the shrine.

Dedicated to the Pashto poet Abdul Rehman, commonly known as Rehman Baba, the shrine drew thousands of followers, particularly at gatherings where his mystical love poetry was sung.

Reports said that the poet’s grave was totally destroyed and the surrounding marble building was badly damaged. However, there were no casualties.

A letter delivered to the mausoleum’s management warned against “shrine culture” three days before the attack, said Sahibzada Mohammad Anees, a government official in Peshwar.

Local residents also
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In October 2007, still-unidentified terrorists set off bombs at the mausoleum of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer Sharif, one of South Asia’s most revered shrines. Two people were killed and 17 injured in the bombing.
Arson attack

Earlier, in May 2005, the Lashkar-e-Taiba was alleged to have carried out an arson attack that gutted the 14th century shrine of the saint Zainuddin Wali at Ashmuqam. The following month, a Lashkar operative was alleged to have attempted to assassinate the north Kashmir-based mystic, Ahad B’ab Sopore.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->