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| Afghanistan |
| Tempers flare in dispute over display of ancient artifacts |
| 2008-02-02 |
| KABUL (NNI): Decades of war have decimated much of Afghanistan's ancient heritage. Many historic architectural gems have been damaged or destroyed, and national treasures have been looted from museums or vandalized by the Taliban. Amid the destruction, one Afghan expatriate has amassed a private collection containing thousands of artifacts -- some dating back thousands of years. Ahmad Shah Sultani considers himself to be a savior of Afghanistan's cultural heritage. Though he has never learned to read or write, Sultani says he amassed a fortune and became an expert on Afghan artifacts as an antiquities dealer in Pakistan and London. The former goldsmith's apprentice also says that he has spent millions of dollars during the past three decades for the 15,000 artifacts in his collection -- buying from other antiques dealers in Europe, Iran, Pakistan, and Dubai. "I can't estimate any value for these pieces. Just the number of pieces," Sultani told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan. "They are priceless because these are ancient and no amount of money can replace them." |
| Posted by:Seafarious |