ABSTRACT
Religion has been an arena of conflict throughout the history of Afghanistan. From attacks by Brahmins on Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the fifth century to today’s suicide bombers targeting those who do not share their religious views, violence has been used to provoke, intimidate and impose belief. In a context where religion is fundamental to many Afghans’ sense of identity, this chapter examines the historic significance of a number of ‘holy’ sites in the urban landscape and assesses their role in people’s lives today. Perceptions of value and sanctity attached to such sites vary; some are revered for the piety of the founder, while others are thought to possess special powers or are associated with a particular sect or confessional group. Others are valued primarily for their architectural form or decoration. The chapter will briefly describe several recent conservation initiatives through which host communities have facilitated sensitive aspects of works and, in some cases, defused tensions and devised ways of ensuring ‘soft’ protection of sites. While such examples are specific to the situation, it is hoped that they might prompt discussion about the lessons learned and potential applicability of such approaches to other settings.
