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Eugene

(62,390 posts) Sun May 6, 2012, 09:39 PM May 2012

Mali Islamist militants 'destroy' Timbuktu saint's tomb [View all]

Source: BBC

6 May 2012 Last updated at 11:49 GMT

Islamist fighters said to be linked to al-Qaeda have destroyed the tomb of a local Muslim saint in the Malian town of Timbuktu, officials and locals say.

The gunmen attacked the shrine and set it on fire, saying it was contrary to Islam, according to the official.

Tuareg rebels and Islamist fighters took control of Timbuktu, a UN heritage site, after a military coup in March.

Unesco said the town's capture could endanger its "outstanding architectural wonders" .

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17973545

26 replies

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Mali Islamist militants 'destroy' Timbuktu saint's tomb [View all] Eugene May 2012 OP

all that religious fanatics do is destroy. provis99 May 2012 #1

I didn't realize there was an actual place called Timbuktu! Marrah_G May 2012 #2

I didn't realize those folks kept 'saints' mythes may3rd May 2012 #3

It's their own cult, actually - the closer the denomination the worse the infighting saras May 2012 #7

you might find this interesting grantcart May 2012 #12

Oh now that is cool!!!!!!!!!!! Marrah_G May 2012 #14

Not only is it a real place LibertyLover May 2012 #15

What a gem! Marrah_G May 2012 #16

you might find this interesting grantcart May 2012 #17

That is an amazing post LibertyLover May 2012 #18

Its the Buddhas of Bamiyan all over again. riderinthestorm May 2012 #4

The usual from fundys... Archae May 2012 #5

eerily similiar to the beginnings of the Taliban DCBob May 2012 #6

And the blowing up of the giant Buddhas. sakabatou May 2012 #22

Timbuktu was a spectacular town cosmicone May 2012 #8

What isn't contrary to Islam? demosincebirth May 2012 #9

Wanton destruction it seems n/t 4th law of robotics May 2012 #20

To me, destroying a UNESCO site is the closest thing that exists to sacrilege! Odin2005 May 2012 #10

A friend and I watched "Rape of Europa" on PBS last year closeupready May 2012 #11

For more background on the importance of Timbuktu grantcart May 2012 #13

The key to the Wealth of Timbuktu was its trade with Cathage happyslug May 2012 #19

Interesting grantcart May 2012 #21

It is on the Niger River, the most important river in West Africa, Its delta is Nigeria. happyslug May 2012 #23

Ok that was helpful grantcart May 2012 #24

The only question will be one simple "What is the relationship between wars and geography?" happyslug May 2012 #25

Will we be able to use Toynbee's "Challenge/Response Theory of History" as a source? grantcart May 2012 #26