Armed men burned down a girls' primary school in eastern Afghanistan on Monday night, an act that also destroyed hundreds of Qurans, a government official said on Tuesday.
Ministry of Education spokesman Asif Nang tells CNN that the Sangar girls' primary school in the Alengar district of Laghman province was destroyed.
About 850 copies of the holy Quran, the Muslim sacred book, stored in the school's library were torched as well.
There were no deaths or injuries, but the groundskeeper was tied up and then freed later by responders.
"This is not the first time," Nang said. "In the past armed men have burned schools in Logar and Helmand provinces, burning holy books of Quran in these schools as well."
Nangyalai Seddiqi, the district governor, told CNN that the school was built by an American provincial reconstruction team.
Taliban militants have attacked girls' schools in the past, but Seddiqui said that the fire was apparently set by "addicts and thieves" in a failed robbery attempt.
The provincial governor's spokesman, Gul Rahman Hamdard, confirmed the burning of the school and the Qurans. He told CNN an investigation is ongoing.
It does take either talent or conscious effort to screw up English that badly.
CNN please fix the reply function to this page.
Story is complicated... fire really could be accidental with robbers knocking over fuel or heater; could be Taliban fundamentalists against educating girls; could be the army punishing a village for lack of compliance; could be a jealous local village or group who wanted the school built in their village; could be tribal feud; could be a local person angry at a family using the school; could be a smuggling group that is bullying a village; could be a local war lord showing his reach and lack of judicial recourse to get villagers to comply.
I bet a very few people know what actually happened.
Complicated place.
Could be none of these. Must be some very disappointed little girls. Sorry for them.
I am the brown noser poster child. No one kisses ass better than me. Email me at Mason dot Mehring at corelinksolutions dot com.
Why is it if American soldiers destroy the Koran by mistake we are evil, but the Taliban burns a school and the Koran is burned are the not considered evil, nice to see how there are 2 different standards is Islam.
Keep in mind that these are the same people determined to bring the entire world under the heel of their sick twisted ideas. When this happens, what do you think they will do in Europe and America?
We are in WW III. The sooner everyone wakes up to that fact and starts hunting down this animals, the better our chances of surviving into a sane world, free of all religions.
James smith.........Devil is dancing close to earth and it is wise for all the people not in the battle to pray for God "s army and defeat evil. All the peace loving people must pray seriously and carefully. Raise God "s name and his Angels will defeat these evil acts. It worked in Sri lanka. Millions of people did pray and finally devil fled away. Do not give up faith on God and pray that every one must have peace in this world and must be out of this very bad situations. Only troops and government cant solve this problem.
There is no devil, no god and to believe in either is to totally deny reality and put your trust in those that lie to you to control your thoughts and actions for their own benefit, not yours.
Most of the problems of the world are, and always have been, caused by religion. Humanity will never truly be free until the black yoke of religion is lifted by the clear light of truth and rational thinking.
@ James Smith João Pessoa, Brazil- If more people worried about the really important things in life- there would be a shortage of fishing poles.
You said "Taliban or other fools burning schools and libraries are just many of the thousands of weak, pathetic and frightened men who fear educated women. Although I am a male, I do think Kathy hit the nail on the head on Nov 10 when she said:
" Personally, I think these males are very afraid that if these girls get a basic education, they will surpass almost all of the males thus showing that girls and women are by far the superior gender". I would not use the term "men" as men respect women and they are not afraid of strong educated women. These are simply males who think their testicles make them better than anyone else. I do think that if we give these males enough time, they will kill each other off so that instead of these males worrrying about the 50% of the population who are educated women, they will soon realize women make up 75 or 80% of their population. That may not be a bad idea as with fewer males, there would be fewer problems such as wars.
I think you raised some very good points here and I agree in everything you have said.
Its very hard to get to american ears, I am trying my level best to get in it. I am happy because you seems to be getting the massage, all I asked from you is to spread massage to all Americans. I belief if you guys can change your way of approaching things this world will be safer place. Why cant you learn from South Africans. A Gun is not solution, the best thing is to seat down and sort your differences. God has given us brain which powerfull than all creatures, so why cant we use it. Yes we go for fight okay, we fight.. fight.. fight but at end of the day we will need to seat down and talk. Why didn't we take the shortcut and avoid fighting.
All I can tell you is that there was way of dealing with 9-11 ortherthan going to war. Yes I agree people died there and i am not happy about that and belief no one has right to kill another person. What you should have done to those whom you think are responsible is to find a movite behind their actions. Tell me, have you solve anything by going to war, the answer is big NO! but instead you have worsen the situation. Anyway I am black christian South African who doesn't in war. Yes country might have crime but we are working on it and we are aware that people are doing crime because of hunger. Amen
@ RSAT 4- I am experiencing diificulties getting this to post so bear with me:
I like massages too; yes all Americans should get a massage, everyone likes a happy ending.
If America changed their way of approaching things the world would be a safer place, yes, more carpet bombing so we don’t need to put boots on the ground, good point.
Why can’t we learn from South Africans? Reread your post, that’s why.
Part 2:
A gun is not a solution- well that depends on how you look at the problem. One thing I have learned in life; it’s better to have a gun and not need one than to need one and not have one.
Why don’t we take the shortcut, because hard work pay off, read the story of “the tortoise and the hare”.
I’m pretty sure just about all of us agree, no one has the right to kill another, except of course in war or to defend yourself or loved ones. For survival.
We do not care what the motive was behind 9-11, the motive is the Terrorists are mad they are not Americans- we do not care- we want justice.
As the Count on Sesame Street says, "Allah Peanut Butter Sandwiches". Makes more sense than that crazy "religion of peace".
The primary goal of NATO in Afghanistan is to get the Afghan people to stop chanting "Allah Akbar" and to start chanting "Allah Akbar,but money Akbar-er" or like you say "Allah Peanut Butter Sandwiches". That way they'll submit to foreign rule and gladly or so they think!
Are you drunk drugged or just stupid?
@ Kate, you are wasting your time, he's just stupid, there is no cure.
A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS AND THE KITE RUNNER REALITY.....
REGINALDO REAL..........Man they were great books with the real picture of Afghanistan. They are not fiction as I talked to the Author through CNN.
yahh great books truly reflecting whats going on in Afghanistan.....The great Khaled Hosseini is a true blue Afghan sharing his insights. Afghan Muslims are great religious and very brave people and i respect them for their religious beliefs and their love of their great watan. Tashakor....
Because their Taliban would throw acid on her face and burn her eyes out, then stone her to death because she's a witch (then they will blame it on the West)
-yeah.. That would pretty much sum it up.
I think who ever did the nasty job did not know there were Quran in the school.
The Prophet Mohammed....May be ..because they do not care where they attack .Taliban are mostly under drugs.
Waiting for the Muslims of the world to riot in protest of the Taliban burning the Koran. Why is there dead silence from the Muslim world on this desecration of their most holy book?
There is NO way that you will religious arguments, especially when you are dealing with religious zealots & fanatics who have no remorse to kill thier own!
"In the name of God" is a terrible thing, epsecially when those saying it are as ignorant as the Taliban
Any religion, be it Hindu, Moslem, Christian, Jew or whatever your zealous beliefs are- if you are not attaining peace or promoting it, it is a false religion, your supreme creator is not pleased with you. You have been blinded by your own bad nature and behavior and have been beguiled into believing lies, have no enlightenment or respect for human/spiritual life. So many people read the bible, torah, koran etc. & twist & enterpret it the way they want &/or follow religious leaders that do the same, they lead you away from truth, true love, peace, & harmony. Some false religions have no concept of forgiveness or compassion, uncapable of truly loving, only condemnation on others & even themselves.There is no justification for evil behavior, to thine own self be true, learn to love your fellow man, regardless of colour or what they look like. Look after the sick & dying & poor & feed the hungry instead of destroying and creating hatred in this world.
Amen!
There are many areas that the males in control want to prevent girls from getting an education. Afghanistan is one area where the Taliban have even bombed girl's schools to keep them from getting an education. Personally, I think these males are very afraid that if these girls get a basic education, they will surpass almost all of the males thus showing that girls and women are by far the superior gender. If they can do this with a basic education, what would they do with an advanced education?
Now that more women are getting an advanced education, they are surpassing most males in almost every area and actually, I know several males who have told me they are glad women are the superior gender, I am glad that it is women who are too of course . From what I see of most males, I would not like thinking that they were. I think we need to encourage women and girls to get the advanced degrees even though the males will be left miles behind them. If life was a play, women would be the stars while males would only play supporting roles so perhaps males need to move out of the way and let women take control and clean up the mess we have made of society; It will only help everyone including the males.
@ Kathy, I think you might be a little high on your horse, I don't think either gender is superior, but as far as The Taliban being afraid of women succeeding and becoming a valuable part of their society you are absolutely right, In Afghanistan roughly 11% of the population is literate (and that's the male population, females are even less). Literate women in the middle east (or any literate people for that matter) exposes them to the knowledge that there are better places in the world and better ways of doing things, that's why China and North Korea also monitor their internet access. Ignorant people are just easier to control and that's exactly what the Taliban wants, they do not desire change or progress for Afghanistan and would just assume to keep living in caves and mud huts with women subservient like just like they have been living for the last 10,000 years. Preventing the children of Afghanistan from having a chance at a meaningful future is the biggest crime of all.
By the way, the suppossed males who said they are glad women are the superior gender are either trying to get into your pants or they are sissies. 😉
Taliban's are tunnel visioned and ignorant like street dogs living on rubbish and leftovers, so is Yacobi, the islamic stoge!
Yes, that tunnel vision and ignorance doesn't speak much for the future of Afghanistan.
Yacobi is a tissue in the toilet to wipe the asses!
Jothish,will you cut the Tea Party lingo for crying out loud??? Just leave that for the ignorant Tea Partiers!!!
Why don't you just let the Tea Partiers blog what they think? Most Americans must like that kind of lingo as it's becoming increasingly politically correct among the majority. As a Tea Partier,I find it quite acceptable.
Why don't you think about it a bit before you say stuff like that.
Do you really want him anywhere near your ass?
yacobi fears girl's being educated, he fears Hinduism for millions of Hindus were slaughtered by the Muslim-persian invasion of India in the middle centuries. Everyone know that which the derogatory word considered all over the world(Muslim or Hindu)
now that is funny good one The prophet Mohammed , we have got to have some humour in here
Truer then true. 🙂
Ah, the mighty heroes of Islam and their war on little girls!
Yes, it's very different on the ground, usually the Taliban are hiding from the little girls.
Who knows what group these men belong to other than weak-minded, ball-less misogynists who are so frightened and backward that they fear educated girls.
I think Yabobi was saying the Taliban are too stupid to read so they didn't know it was the Koran.
Education is something for them to fear, Intelligence makes you question things. It is in the Koran that Muhammed forbade questioning of the Koran. It's easier to control ignorant people, history is proof of that.
And Christan leaders, tell us that the Bible should not be questioned. There are few simlarites betiween the so called bible and koran experts. Hmmmmm
My opinion is that the Taliban does not believe in girls receiving an education and that outweighs their respect for the Quran.
I didn't know atal's mom works as an air freshener lol
Enough already with the Left Wing,Right Wing crap. It makes me laugh when people wine and complain how bad things are and then blame it on either Dem or Rep. Grow up people! and if you think the country is that screwed up, then run for office and lets see how well you do.
I have a better idea,Derek. Let's invigorate the Communist Party and then vote their candidates into office! I'm sure they'll do a far better job than the current goons we have working for the MIC(military-industrial-complex) and trying to be politically correct.
Politicians are all worthless, overpaid liars no matter what party they belong to becuase in the end they are all in it for thier own best interests.
@ Atal, good point, thanks for the tip.
I guess that we'll never find out who's responsable for this act. I expect that the right-wing media will try to tell us that the Taliban did it but somehow I won't find that credible. I admit that I'm not very smart but I know better than to put anything past the C.I.A.!!!
Quite true Bledsoe,quite true. Thank you.
Quite True Bledsoe, you are not very smart if you actually believe the CIA had anything to do with this. Another conspiracy theory idiot!!
@ Bledsoe- Your are a F-N Idiot.
Please whoever you are,just cut the Tea Party lingo,will you? It will be greatly appreciated.
You're right on one thing; You are not very smart at all. You probably blame the CIA for every little thing that goes wrong in your life; forgetting your keys, wallet, bad luck, rain, ED... Keep it going.
Fake Pakistan and Fake Karzai with their Pashtuns
This action is valueable by the Taliban and theirs supporter the traider Karzaim who supports Taliban
Back in the Taliban base ... "Aziz, I told you not tot burn the school." Aziz, "Oh, crap ... I didn't know that's where they store the Qurans.In the library?"