David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Thursday 09 July, 2009

Modern Madrassas?

Pakistan's massive young population needs schools and teachers. Their absence has led to the growth of a large madrassa movement - some 18,000 strong. These religious institutions have become a byword in the West for indoctrination of an extreme and dangerous kind. In some cases the reputation is well merited. The replacement or regulation of these madrassas so that they fulfil a constructive not destructive mission is an overridingly important issue in Pakistan.

Multan's Al-Khair public school and madrassa sets out as its mission "enlightened minds and a Muslim heart". I visited yesterday. On first blush the swaying 8-16 year olds memorising the Qur'an seems a long way from a model of inquiring education. The youngsters said they committed themselves to 8 hours a day memory work out of religious devotion. But the director talked openly and publicly of his condemnation of 9/11 and 7/7 and presented me with his book on inter faith dialogue. It sits alongside the public school, in the public school in fact. The pupils were enthusiastic. The issue is not religion but violent extremism.

Posted at 14:06 09 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[6]

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And what pushes these innocent 8 year old kids to violence is what the west has to understand before branding them all as Satanist/evil doers etc etc etc. In Pakistan I know it to be the Kashmir issue primarily. Solve it and you would have a vibrant prosperous Pakistan committed to democracy.

Posted by Ejaz Rabudi on July 09, 2009 at 10:17 PM BST #

Yes you are right. The issue is violent extremism and not the religion. But unless the core regional issues are resolved, on which this extremism dwells, no amount of military effort can pay any dividend. As you yourself had written in one of your articles in "The Guardian": "The idea of a "war on terror" gave the impression of a unified, transnational enemy, embodied in the figure of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. The reality is that the motivations and identities of terrorist groups are disparate. Lashkar-e-Taiba has roots in Pakistan and says its cause is Kashmir. " It is the West which provides all these disparate groups the opportunity to come together to spread hatred and violence. U.S. does not understand the effects of its drone policy. These drones give these groups and all the hard core conservative religious parties a reason to cover their violent ideology and to sell it to the gullible masses. Husham Ahmed Islamabad, Pakistan

Posted by Husham Ahmed on July 10, 2009 at 08:42 AM BST #

In the Name of God Hello Mr. Miliband I amMohammadReza Samadi I am a Law student from Iran Me a few questions I've had from you that seems to be just ask man Mr. Miliband as its better know my dear country is a long scene of internal conflict in their views to This conflicts with the mischief that number always wanted space is unrest along Iran is Ashan person who benefited the country's national interests is preferred Many among the media outside Iran, including the official network of the BBC in England went on the fire dispute Vbh the skirt of the issues involved in Many of those who make the policy directly what European and American Vchh indirect interference in Iran's domestic issues in Now this student a few questions I've:

Posted by mohammad reza samadi on July 11, 2009 at 02:56 AM BST #

1.If one day of your inner conflicts occur in England you will satisfy us that the issue of Iranian involvement in the Make how your behavior will be? 2.If our embassy in your country by the action of Chaos in the UK will be how do you behave? 3.If our country's budget to launch its TV beings through the medium of conflicts in England skirt out how you will behave? 4.If our allies against you by the international community do Vbh unjustifiable action against the verdict issued in your country England What will you do? Mr. Miliband You're a man just to answer your questions We're all human point of land with every language and every color and race We must respect each other's laws Able to live together in good Mr. Miliband fair I know you will answer my questions I am waiting for your answer my email : mirza2030@yahoo.com Thanks Mohammad Reza Samadi Law student Iran

Posted by mohammad reza samadi on July 11, 2009 at 02:57 AM BST #

Nationalism and religion are by and large the biggest perpetrators of division, exclusion and hatred. Paradoxically though, those are indeed for unity, inclusion and compassion. The problem is the misinterpretation of nationalism and religion by various groups to justify their causes. Nevertheless, where nationalism and religion are involved, there is always a cause for caution considering the high inflammability, and its ability to set people blindly against each other.

Posted by Chamila Liyanage on July 15, 2009 at 03:16 AM BST #

Hushan Ahmed makes the very good point that the means by which you achieve your goal must be consistent with what you claim that goal to be. Disproportionate civilian deaths associated with the use of drones suggest a lack of regard for the interests of the local people on whose behalf as well as our own we claim to be waging the battle against the Taliban.

Posted by OwenE2 on July 19, 2009 at 07:20 AM BST #

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