"The militants are regularly dispatching letters to schools, colleges, hospitals and other such institutions to warn women of dire consequences if they don’t follow ‘their’ code of dress. Most of these letters are anonymous, and are signed the ‘Followers / lovers of Islam’ and ‘Islamic Militants’ etc…Bibi Aftab, the vice-principal of a girls’ school in district Mansehra, has confirmed that the letter has been received by the principal and for the safety of over 800 students, the administration has made wearing burqa compulsory. A few days back they even called a meeting of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), which sought the help of the District Police Officer and District Nazim to avoid any severe outcomes. The school administration is of the view that 20 per cent of the students who have not started wearing burqa yet, will start doing so because parents will not expose their daughters to any danger. But there is a group of girls who have rebelled against wearing a veil at any cost. Bibi Aftab says that most of the girls are covering themselves only because of the pressure from the school administration and the fear of the local Taliban.
Not only the students find it frustrating and are expelling out by rebelling against this dictation, but some of the teachers are also infuriated. A female school teacher in district Mansehra vents out, “It is the prime responsibility of the state to provide security to its inhabitants. Especially, being the rulers of an Islamic state, it’s their duty to ensure safety and security to women who play their due role in uplifting the country.” - excerpt from “You - Jang”.
What are your opinions on this? I’m shocked at how much NWFP is becoming more and more like pre-9/11 Talebnized Afghanistan. Many of you want the Taleban rule, and so I’d like to know if this is Islamically reasonable in your opinion, what they’re doing to schools and other institutions.
Disappointed... but this is expected of NWFP. It may take a while before they revert to the natural state life by giving up fanatic elements of society. The trouble is that these areas have always been extremely conservative due to the tribal mindset, so these views might be seen by the male population as at least somewhat justified (which is troubling in my opinion). I think urbanization may very well be a long-term answer to this. Dealing with the Taliban in the short-term is still tricky business. You cannot leave them alone now at least since they are in "fight back" mode and will take this as a sign of weakness, and you cannot take too an aggressive action since you would want to avoid backlash/recruitment against the "evil" government. If only the government were sincere too (but we do not know that for sure)...
If there is oppression in that region then I think the best thing to do is for the people to leave from there and for neighbouring areas to take on refugees for a while.
People need to dialogue with the leaders and offer teaching for their younger men so they can understand the aspects fairness in Islam and wean out of them the ignorant aspects of their order. I say men because they are currently holding the stick.
Shari'ah should never be implemented on a stick unless the act against which it is being done is out of utter betrayal or disrespect such as 'dancing on the street naked' and can only be done by the court issuing a sentence. The people need to understand that arresting involves delicate care and consideration even whilst being held before a hearing there must be utter fairness. But for women not wearing hijab the regime need to encourage it though media but should not arrest on that basis for men should have their eyes lowered any way.
There is a problem with viewing the world in binary ...
"The militants are regularly dispatching letters to schools, colleges, hospitals and other such institutions to warn women of dire consequences if they don't follow 'their' code of dress. Most of these letters are anonymous, and are signed the 'Followers / lovers of Islam' and 'Islamic Militants' etc.....Bibi Aftab, the vice-principal of a girls' school in district Mansehra, has confirmed that the letter has been received by the principal and for the safety of over 800 students, the administration has made wearing burqa compulsory. A few days back they even called a meeting of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), which sought the help of the District Police Officer and District Nazim to avoid any severe outcomes. The school administration is of the view that 20 per cent of the students who have not started wearing burqa yet, will start doing so because parents will not expose their daughters to any danger. But there is a group of girls who have rebelled against wearing a veil at any cost. Bibi Aftab says that most of the girls are covering themselves only because of the pressure from the school administration and the fear of the local Taliban.
Not only the students find it frustrating and are expelling out by rebelling against this dictation, but some of the teachers are also infuriated. A female school teacher in district Mansehra vents out, "It is the prime responsibility of the state to provide security to its inhabitants. Especially, being the rulers of an Islamic state, it's their duty to ensure safety and security to women who play their due role in uplifting the country." - excerpt from "You - Jang".
What are your opinions on this? I'm shocked at how much NWFP is becoming more and more like pre-9/11 Talebnized Afghanistan. Many of you want the Taleban rule, and so I'd like to know if this is Islamically reasonable in your opinion, what they're doing to schools and other institutions.
I dont think these letters are from the Taliban per say... These are probably just local fanatics and sexists who suddenly feel they have a free reign to spread their badmashi.
Mush govt has ignored the issue,because the MMA were in charge of things and Mushie needed them to support him.
For those people who have actually been in Mansehra would know that this is not an Islamic issue or a Taleban issue. Media just trying to pin the local trend to it to make highlights.
People in those areas strictly live by their tribal customs and honor. I agree with PakPat1. The people who live in those areas are very basic and conservative. Their lifestyle is an honorable part of their life as far as their intellect goes. These local dilemmas should not be associated with Islam but rather uncivilized society that has a long ways to go.
"The militants are regularly dispatching letters to schools, colleges, hospitals and other such institutions to warn women of dire consequences if they don't follow 'their' code of dress. Most of these letters are anonymous, and are signed the 'Followers / lovers of Islam' and 'Islamic Militants' etc.....Bibi Aftab, the vice-principal of a girls' school in district Mansehra, has confirmed that the letter has been received by the principal and for the safety of over 800 students, the administration has made wearing burqa compulsory. A few days back they even called a meeting of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), which sought the help of the District Police Officer and District Nazim to avoid any severe outcomes. The school administration is of the view that 20 per cent of the students who have not started wearing burqa yet, will start doing so because parents will not expose their daughters to any danger. But there is a group of girls who have rebelled against wearing a veil at any cost. Bibi Aftab says that most of the girls are covering themselves only because of the pressure from the school administration and the fear of the local Taliban.
Not only the students find it frustrating and are expelling out by rebelling against this dictation, but some of the teachers are also infuriated. A female school teacher in district Mansehra vents out, "It is the prime responsibility of the state to provide security to its inhabitants. Especially, being the rulers of an Islamic state, it's their duty to ensure safety and security to women who play their due role in uplifting the country." - excerpt from "You - Jang".
What are your opinions on this? I'm shocked at how much NWFP is becoming more and more like pre-9/11 Talebnized Afghanistan. Many of you want the Taleban rule, and so I'd like to know if this is Islamically reasonable in your opinion, what they're doing to schools and other institutions.
What is your opinion when France and Holland in 2004 outlawed the liberty of women to wear Hijab? They can be expelled if they are students from their schools, they can be imprisoned with fines or face violence from others if they are seen outside with their heads covered?
Were you outraged then as you are now at hearing this? Or is your outrage limited to the actions of what, how, where and why other Muslims do what they do?
They were in support of individual freedom of choice for headgear.
For the record, I don't think hijaabis should be discriminated against. I don't feel women who don't cover their hair should be discriminated against either. These are petty issues which should not lead us to judge anyone, which is something many of you are FABULOUS at doing, and so are apparently the folks writing these threatening letters to school principals in NWFP.
They were in support of individual freedom of choice for headgear.
For the record, I don't think hijaabis should be discriminated against. I don't feel women who don't cover their hair should be discriminated against either. These are petty issues which should not lead us to judge anyone, which is something many of you are FABULOUS at doing, and so are apparently the folks writing these threatening letters to school principals in NWFP.
I'm sure ya do. You've obviously missed the point.
By the way , this thread is not about you. Now, please stop derailing the topic, and lets get back to the Taleban's influence in NWFP, a matter much more grave than what I think about you.
Whoever it was planned by, has nothing to do with the severity of the situation. Do you think its something the rest of the Pakistani people shouldn't take seriously?