Ferdowsi Memorial Reportedly Demolished in Afghanistan’s Balkh Province

DID Press: Cultural activists in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province say a memorial dedicated to Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi, the renowned Persian-language poet and author of the Shahnameh, has been demolished in Mazar-e-Sharif.

According to images and information shared by cultural activists from Balkh, the cultural structure at Ferdowsi Square, which was built during Afghanistan’s former republican government, has been completely demolished. A new structure bearing the name of the commercial company “Sultan-Zada” has reportedly replaced it.

The activists have described the demolition as an attack on a cultural symbol and alleged that the replacement was carried out with the financial support of Sultan-Zada and with the acquiescence of the Taliban authorities. These allegations have not been independently verified.

Ferdowsi, who lived around the 10th and 11th centuries, is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Persian literature. His Shahnameh, an epic poem recounting the history and legends of pre-Islamic and early Islamic Persia, is considered one of the foundational works of Persian literary culture.

Cultural activists have expressed concern over what they describe as the removal or alteration of cultural symbols and public references associated with Persian language and heritage in Afghanistan. They argue that the demolition of the memorial could further intensify concerns over the preservation of the country’s cultural and historical heritage.