Each year, thousands of Pakistani children learn from history books
that Jews are tightfisted moneylenders and Christians vengeful
conquerors. One textbook tells kids they should be willing to die as
martyrs for Islam.
They aren't being indoctrinated by extremist mullahs in madrasas,
the private Islamic seminaries often blamed for stoking militancy in
Pakistan. They are pupils in public schools learning from textbooks
approved by the administration of President Pervez Musharraf.
...Musharraf and U.S. officials say education reforms are crucial to
defeating extremism in Pakistan, the only Islamic nation armed with
nuclear weapons. Yet reformers who study the country's education system
say public school lessons still promote hatred against non-Muslims and
urge jihad, or holy war.
"I have been arguing for the longest time that, in fact, our state system is the biggest madrasa," said Rubina Saigol, a U.S.-trained expert on education. "We keep blaming madrasas for everything and, of course, they are doing a lot of things I would disagree with.
"But the state ideologies of hate and a violent, negative nationalism are getting out there where madrasas cannot hope to reach."
The current social studies curriculum guidelines for grades 6 and
7 instruct textbook writers and teachers to "develop aspiration for
jihad" and "develop a sense of respect for the struggle of [the] Muslim
population for achieving independence."
In North-West Frontier Province, which is governed by supporters of the
ousted Taliban regime in neighboring Afghanistan, the federally
approved Islamic studies textbook for eighth grade teaches students
they must be prepared "to sacrifice every precious thing, including
life, for jihad."
"At present, jihad is continuing in different parts of the world,"
the chapter continues. "Numerous mujahedin [holy warriors] of Islam are
involved in defending their religion, and independence, and to help
their oppressed brothers across the world."
The textbook for adolescent students says Muslims are allowed to
"take up arms" and wage jihad in self-defense or if they are prevented
from practicing their religion.
"When God's people are forced to become slaves of man-made laws,
they are hindered from practicing the religion of their God," the
textbook says. "When all the legal ways in this regard are closed, then
power should be used to eliminate the evil.
"If Muslims are being oppressed," the book says, "then jihad is necessary to free them from this cruel oppression."
"Jihad" can mean peaceful struggle as well as holy war. Jihad can
be waged on several levels, beginning with a peaceful, inner struggle
for one's own soul and escalating to killing "infidels."
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