TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on the destruction of Ottoman architectural works throughout the world. A summary of his column is as follows:
Over nine-tenths of Ottoman architectural work in the Balkans has already been destroyed. The remaining ones in Bosnia-Herzegovina were ruined by savage murderers who bombed them systematically. Last year, Afghanistan's Taliban destroyed gigantic Buddha monuments that had been protected by their Muslim ancestors. This led to the fury of a billion Buddhists and countles admirers of Buddha. This action was a smear against all Muslims. A few days ago, a follower of bin Ladin who calls himself a Muslim threatened India by saying that he would put a bomb in the Taj Mahal. This mentality does not view Taj Mahal as the pearl of Islamic civilization and a highwater mark in aestheticism. Wahhabi gangs have been unable to erase all Ottoman arichetctural works of art from the face of earth by destroying them but not through lack of trying. A few days ago, they destroyed the Ottoman Citadel in Mekke through setting off TNT. They will build a hotel in its place. This enmity against the Ottoman legacy, is the classic demonstration of animosity towards the Turks. We denounce all those who are trying to insult our fathers and grandfathers.It is our duty to protect and repair the Hittite, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine works remaning on our soil with the utmost care. Fanaticism is evil no matter where it shows it face.Therefore, there is no difference between someone threatening the Taj Mahal, planning action against Hagia Sophia, destroying the Ottoman Citadel or firing mortars at the Mostar bridge. The people of the 21st century should not fall into these traps.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION