GHOR (TOLOnews): Following flooding in Ghor province, the Minaret of Jam is reportedly in danger.
According to local officials of this province, the waters of the Hariroad River have penetrated into the minaret, and if immediate action is not taken to drain the water and reinforce the structure, there is a possibility of the collapse of this 800-year-old structure.
Abdul Hai Zaeem, the head of information and culture in Ghor, said: “Floods have struck the Minaret of Jam, and water has entered the minaret through the brick crevices. Currently, the cracks in the Minaret of Jam have increased compared to before, and this situation is very concerning.”
According to local officials in Ghor, so far, no action has been taken by the interim government and UNESCO to save the Minaret of Jam from collapsing.
Due to the damage to part of the Herat-Ghor highway and the abundant water of the Hariroad River, reaching the Minaret of Jam is said to be difficult.
Some residents of Ghor and cultural figures urged the interim government and relevant international organizations to prevent the destruction of the Minaret of Jam.
Zabihullah Wafa, a cultural activist in Ghor, said, “The ancient Minaret of Jam, which is one of the most valuable historical sites in Afghanistan, is in a very bad condition and is on the verge of collapse.”
Abdul Zaher Zahid, a resident of Ghor, said: “We hope that the central government and cultural institutions will help and cooperate in preventing the collapse of the Minaret of Jam.”
Najibullah Nazari, another resident of Ghor, said: “If the central government and responsible organizations do not pay attention, we will lose the Minaret of Jam.”
The Minaret of Jam is said to be the oldest and tallest brick minaret in the world. This historical relic was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002.
Some cultural figures warn that the collapse of the Minaret of Jam signifies the collapse of a rich and historical civilization.
Asadullah Yousefi, a cultural expert, said: “The collapse of the Minaret of Jam is tantamount to the collapse of a culture and a civilization. It carries thousands of years of architecture, culture, customs, and literature.”
The Minaret of Jam in Ghor, with a height of 65 meters, has a historical background of over 800 years. This brick minaret was built during the reign of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Ghori.
The Minaret of Jam is located seventy kilometers from the city of Firuzkuh in Shahrak district.
