Taliban government approves restoration of historic synagogue in western Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – The interim Taliban administration has approved the restoration of a historic synagogue in Herat, western Afghanistan.

Restoration of the Yu Aw Synagogue will start in two months and will take nearly 18 months, Zalmay Safa, the director of Herat’s department for the safeguarding of historic monuments, told Anadolu Agency.

According to Safa, there are currently four synagogues, a Turkish bath, and a cemetery in Herat, but only the Yu Av Synagogue has so far gotten protected status, while one synagogue was converted into a mosque, another into a school, and a third was heavily damaged due to conflicts.

Yu Av has been closed to visitors for the last two years to avoid any damage.

The restoration of the historic synagogue will be funded by a local non-governmental organization with foreign funding, Safa said.

Telling how Herat was once home to many Jews that lived in the city in peace, Safa said: “These historic buildings reflect the lines of Herat’s history, so the restoration decision is a sign of good will towards other religions.”