Il radio-iconoclasta pakistano

Ricordate il "Radio Mullah" delle province pakistane confinanti con l'Afghanistan? La figura dell'istigatore fondamentalista via FM torna a essere protagonista di una bella corrispondenza di Caroline Watson sull'Asia Times Online. E insieme al Mullah mediatico rispunta una triste storia di iconoclastia simile a quella raccontata - a furia di cannonate - dai talebani dei famosi Buddha di Bamyian, andati distrutti, nonostante le pressioni internazionali, nel 2001. Anche in Pakistan esiste una statua simile, il Buddha di Jehanabad, della antica civiltà di Gandhara, dominatrice nella valle dello Swat, dove oggi scorrazzano i miliziani di Maulana Fazlullah. Purtroppo l'incolpevole Buddha di pietra è già stato preso di mira in ottobre e in occasione del secondo attacco il suo volto è stato gravemente danneggiato dagli esplosivi:

A beacon of Gandhara heritage, the Buddha of Jehanabad is the only remaining Buddha of its size and quality carved into the rock in the area. Standing at 23 feet, the 7th-century statue is considered the most important carving of its kind. It is unique, the most complete and priceless remains of Gandhara.

Recently, the Buddha of Jehanabad come into conflict with another famous personality of the region: the cleric-turned-militant who has led the campaign in the Swat Valley, Maulana Fazlullah - the "Radio Mullah".
The Buddha of Jehanabad lost. The statue suffered two attacks by militants led by Maulana Fazlullah. The second attack succeeded in seriously defacing it after explosives were detonated on the Buddha's face.

Anche in FM il Mullah le spara grossissime. Secondo la Watson recentemente se la sarebbe presa anche contro la campagna governativa di vaccinazione antipolio. Secondo l'illuminato religioso si tratterebbe di un complotto per rendere impotenti i maschi pakistani.

Maulana Fazlullah established an illegal FM radio station at Imam Dheri. From here, the "Radio Mullah" delivered sermons and programs of Islamic teachings. He also called for attacks on things "un-Islamic". His broadcasts decried things ranging from modern Bollywood movies to the Buddha of Jehanabad. Girls were advised to only attend school wearing burkha (dress covering the entire body, including the face). Later girls' schools were closed altogether. He outlawed polio vaccinations, claiming they were a ploy by the West to render Muslims impotent.
The station was banned by Pakistan's government. After the operation in Swat, the Radio Mullah fled into hiding, taking his portable broadcast equipment with him. He continued to broadcast long into the operation, evading the authorities and military. When Swat was pronounced calmer last week, a group of journalists were admitted to the area and given a tour - just hours before their arrival Maulana Fazlullah had been broadcasting from an unknown location.