Say what?
Parents of some of the girls studying at a controversial religious school in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, have voiced concern for their safety. Their fears rose after an ultimatum from madrassa leaders that Sharia law be enforced in the country. The school and adjoining mosque are accused of promoting intolerance and taking the law into their own hands. On Sunday, the chief cleric issued a fatwa against a female minister who had been pictured hugging a man. The madrassa has frequently been in the news in recent months. In February, armed students prevented the authorities from demolishing an illegally constructed mosque, and occupied a nearby children’s library. Last month they abducted a woman they accused of running a brothel, holding her captive for two days.
Kids today eh. But that’s not the ‘say what?’ part. This is:
Parents of some of the girls studying* at the Jamia Hafsa say they are worried by recent events, but do not want to harm their daughters’ education.
Their daughters’ what? Their daughters’ what? What on earth makes the parents think what the daughters are getting at the madrassa is an education? What part of occupying a children’s library or abducting and imprisoning a woman sounds educational to them? What part of going outside in black bags to brandish bamboo poles at enemies looks educational to them? What do they take education to be, exactly? What is it that they don’t want to harm? The aggression? The fanaticism? The stupidity?
*Studying? Studying? What part of kidnapping, threatening, and occupying looks like studying to the BBC?
hmmn, I suspect that the parents’ idea of an education is basic literacy and lots and lots of koranic instruction on the role of the virtuous muslim woman. Knowing pakistan’s literacy rates for women, the first expectation is somewhat laudable while the second simply par for the course.
I suspect that the madrassa is providing this ‘education’ free. So the parents have it really cheap.
None of these girls is going to go anywhere interesting or achieve anything worthwhile (beyond childbearing) and they probably realise it on some level, hence the deep well of hatred and antagonism for anyone who might have different aspirations. Terrorising other women on the streets and shopkeepers is probably the most excitement they are going to have in their lives. So wonderful of the religion of peace to provide them with this brief hiatus of exhiliration and empowerment.
*Studying? Studying? What part of kidnapping, threatening, and occupying looks like studying to the BBC?
– just what do you want the nice BBC reporter to write instead? That madrassa=terrorism school?
Education at these madrassas is only free because it is heavily subsidised by the Saudis. However, the public schools in Pakistan are apparently so awful that parents who can’t afford private schools (many of which aren’t much better) have little choice but to use the madrassas.
Havng said which, I don’t assume they are all as terrifying as the one currently in the news. We mustn’t judge norms on the basis of extremes.
Studying?
Well, yes …
Studying the demented maunderings of a 1400 (+) years-old dead con-man and paedophile.
Very, very sick, and sickening.
I know they’re not in the same league, but I’m currently stuck in a hotbed of Baptist believers (visiting the out-laws in the US), and they’ve got some reeeeaaallly modern views on the role of women…
joy and fun. And a lot of smiling and nodding.
:-)
Yes, so I’ve heard.
Take notes, Andy! Send me the notes! I promise anonymity.
:- )
I thought children went to school to be educated not indoctrinated.
Children apparently do not sit exams in subjects other than the [Qu’an] Koran.
The Madrass Schools cleverly hide behind their charitable status to allegedly ripen their young ‘would be’ terrorists.
Girls under the Taleban/Taliban were not allowed to go to school. Now that they are – they are learning to be fundamentalists with all thie enforced indoctrination.
>”QU’RAN” “THE”