Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan

Mazar-e-Sharif, near the border with Uzbekistan in the north of Afghanistan, is a city of around 130 000 mainly Uzbek inhabitants. The city is famous for its magnificent shrine dedicated to Ali, the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and Fourth Caliph of Islam, who is alleged to be buried here. Ali was assassinated in 661 and buried near Baghdad, but his followers, who feared his grave might be desecrated, took him to the present site where a shrine was built in 1136. This was destroyed by Genghis Khan but rebuilt in 1481. The buiding is extensively restored in recent times and one of the most magnificent examples of Islamic architecture. Mazar is therefore considered a sacred city and a place of pilgrimage.

The city is also famous for its carpets, mainly Turkmen: there is a population of Turkmens here, related to the people of Turkmenistan, to the north west of Afghanistan. Before the devastating wars Mazar-e-Sharif was also known for its cotton and silk industries. It was also a centre for the trade in Karakul wool and horses.

Mazar has suffered greatly during the recent wars. It was an important strategic site and was the scene of a massacre of Taliban prisoners by the victorious Northern Alliance after the collapse of the Taliban regime following the American air attacks late 2001.

	Tomb of Ali	Gate, Tomb of Ali	Restoration work	Market scene
	Modelling a plate	Shoeing the horse	In the smithy	Vegetable market
	Schoolboys	Blacksmith	Modelling a plate	Boy in smithy

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