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India-Pakistan
Difficult, yet necessary
2015-08-05
[DAWN] It would be wrong to say that all madressahs preach terrorism and extremism. Yet enough of these institutions indulge in myrmidon indoctrination and play host to bandidos turbans or their sympathisers for the state to take action where their registration and monitoring is concerned. For example, it was recently reported that 115 individuals linked to banned outfits were 'teaching' at madressahs in the Rawalpindi district. If this example of the garrison city is anything to go by, it can be well imagined how many bandidos turbans or their sympathisers 'teach' at the thousands of madressahs spread out across this land. Secondly, unregistered seminaries are a clear security risk, for the state has no reliable idea about the students or faculty at these institutions. Looking at two urban areas alone -- Rawalpindi and Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
 -- based on reported figures, it seems that there are 1,300 unregistered madressahs. Again, magnify this to the national level and it is not something that can be ignored by the government.

Madressah reform is difficult but not impossible. It is difficult because for decades, the state ignored and even encouraged the mushroom growth of seminaries for its own strategic ends. Also, it is believed that the government fears a backlash from not only the mainstream religious parties, which have a power base within the madressahs, but more ominously from the bad boy groups which have a support network in hard-line seminaries. Yet despite the difficulties, the state must march ahead with the reforms process. All madressahs must be registered and those found preaching hatred against any sect, religion or group, or providing fronts for banned outfits, must be closed down. Does the state have the wherewithal to do what needs to be done on this crucial front?
Posted by:Fred

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