Pakistan's Islamic Schools Resist Expulsion Order

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 12-30-2005 | Imtiaz Gul

[blam]

Pakistan's Islamic schools resist expulsion order

· Ban on foreign students followed London bombs
· Leaders claim Musharraf ruling is discriminatory

Imtiaz Gul in Islamabad
Friday December 30, 2005
The Guardian (UK)

Leaders of Pakistan's 13,000 madrasas have vowed to defy a government deadline to expel foreign students by December 31, saying the regulations discriminate against religious schools. President Pervez Musharraf required Pakistan's madrasas to expel about 1,800 foreign students after the July 7 bombings in London highlighted the extremist links of some schools. Three of the London bombers were of Pakistani descent, and the Aldgate bomber, Shehzad Tanweer, attended a Lahore madrasa that has since been linked to Islamist militants.

But Wifaqul-Madaris, the umbrella organisation for the madrasas, fears the move would throttle many schools and backfire on the authorities. "There will be renewed crackdowns against the seminaries, but we will continue to oppose the registration and the expulsion as a matter of principle," said Abdul Rashid Ghazi, a hardline cleric at the Lal Masjid seminary in Islamabad. Mr Ghazi, who is wanted by the authorities because of alleged al-Qaida links but preaches openly in the heart of Islamabad, fears that any coercive measure against religious institutions would undermine whatever good the process could have achieved. He believes Gen Musharraf's drive against foreign students was "motivated by the desires of his masters [the United States]".

Most religious-political organisations, many of whom also run madrasas, accuse Gen Musharraf of following a US-led agenda against them under the cover of the "war against terror".

[Dark Skies]

But this is crazy...Pakistan like Saudi Arabia is a good ally.

Saudi Arabia sends millions to the U.S. to support Wahabbism and Pakistan, poor little Pakistan, does all it can to educate young jihadis...and sell nuclear weapons to anyone who pays.

And who is the enemy? Radical islam (but not of the Paki or Saudi variety)?

Are we being betrayed from within our own country.

I am a patriot...but not a fool. Where do we draw the frikken line...

[Dark Skies]

Here's the truth teller (my interpretation) and below is what he says about this plague...

From The River War, Churchill, 1899.

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men."

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome."

[Cronos]

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men."

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome."

[Cronos]

ping

[Fred Nerks]

Thanks for the ping, Cronos.

Great minds thinking alike, you both posted the same quote. That's an excellent likeness DS, I think I can tell what Churchill is thinking by the look in his eyes.

[Dark Skies]

Check this out...I have shown it to you before. I am not a good cartoonist but I do try for impressionism.

[pcottraux]

I've seen it; it's very good.

[Dark Skies]

Thanks PC...not looking for compliments, but not turning them away either.

Get that Mohammed guy...he is a stinker.

[pcottraux]

Mohammed? Isn't that the name of every single Muslim in the world?

[Dark Skies]

Mohammed...hmmm.

I am thinking of a monkey...with a friend who is a pig. And a camel.

Islam is not able to withstand the humor of western drawing.

[pcottraux]

Yeah, I'd say the Middle East is a place in desperate need of a few good laughs.