Madrassas Protest ReformPosted by Evan on July 6th, 2008
The Pakistan government’s effort to reform radical madrassas have been met by a storm of protest from . . . radical madrassas. The PTI is reporting that thousands of madrassa students and mullahs gathered in Islamabad in a protest organized by extremist groups:
“They assembled on a street near the mosque for a conference organised by hardline religious groups. TV channels reported that leaders of banned extremist groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and Jaish-e-Mohammed also attended the event.
Several clerics made hard hitting speeches criticising the arrest of former Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz as well as the government’s plans for reforming madrassas. The seminary students chanted slogans like “Allah-o-Akbar” (God is great).
Clerics said the conference was organised to pay respect to those who died when the army stormed the mosque in the heart of Islamabad after a siege in July last year. Participants demanded the release of Abdul Aziz, the reopening of Jamia Faridia madrassa and rebuilding of Jamia Hafsa madrassa in line with an order issued by the Supreme Court.
Both the madrassas are affiliated to Lal Masjid. Jamia Faridia was closed after the military operation while Jamia Hafsa was razed. Abdul Aziz was arrested at the conclusion of the operation while his brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi was shot dead. Over 100 people were killed in the operation.”