Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan.....

An Afghan man rids his bicycle in front of the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Burqa-clad Afghan women walk past the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Afghan actors perform a play during a Theatre Festival in front of the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. A new Afghan theatre show supported by the Afghan independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and the UN, premiered in front of Buddah in Bamiyan. The performance depicting abuses in Afghanistan's past conflicts highlights the need to deal with the impunity of past human rights abuses spanning nearly three decades of conflict in Afghanistan.

Burqa-clad Afghan women watch a Theatre Festival in front of the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. A new Afghan theatre show supported by the Afghan independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and the UN, premiered in front of Buddah in Bamiyan. The performance depicting abuses in Afghanistan's past conflicts highlights the need to deal with the impunity of past human rights abuses spanning nearly three decades of conflict in Afghanistan.

An Afghan audience watch as an actor performs a play during a Theatre Festival in front of the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. A new Afghan theatre show supported by the Afghan independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and the UN, premiered in front of Buddah in Bamiyan. The performance depicting abuses in Afghanistan's past conflicts highlights the need to deal with the impunity of past human rights abuses spanning nearly three decades of conflict in Afghanistan.

Governor of the Afghan central highland province of Bamiyan Habiba Surabi speaks during a gathering in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

This general view from a hilltop shows the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

An Afghan soldier keeps watch in front of the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.