Reading, Writing and Repression: Muslim leaders slam education

Reading, Writing and Repression: Muslim leaders slam education

Muslim teacher gives child a sound thrashing.
Muslim teacher gives child a sound thrashing.

In an example of the 21st century meeting the 7th, Muslim authority figures have issued what could mildly be described as curious statements concerning education of the youth in their respective nations, as reported by The Indian Express (of New Delhi) on Nov. 19, 2013 and also by the US military-controlled East Africa-centric news portal Sabahi.com on Nov. 20, 2013.

Southern India’s influential Muslim cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musaliyar gave a thumbs-up to women and girls receiving a formal eduction, but only under certain conditions.

Shaikh-Aboobacker-Ahmed_Kalthara-Abdul-Qader-Madani_Edappally
Aboobacker Musaliyar, seated.

According to the Sunni sheikh, females in today’s world could and should be educated, “but that did not mean the Islam has changed its decrees regarding the life of women. ”

Regarding life after school, the Muslim leader cautions members of the fairer sex that “they should go for job only in a place where there are enough number of women and trustworthy men. About 90 per cent of jobs do not require man-women mingling. These rules cannot be changed. ”

The vowel-rich Aboobacker Musaliyar also holds the following offices in his native India:

  • General Secretary of the All India Muslim Scholars Association.
  • Founder and Vice Chancellor of Jamia Markazu Ssaquafathi Ssunniyya (Sunni Cultural Center).
  • Chief patron of the Sunni Youth Society.

Meanwhile in Africa…

As stunning as the pronouncements from Sheikh Musaliyar seem to the Western ear, they pale in comparison to the sounds-more-like-a-threat announcement from the Somalia-based Islamic Jihad terrorists al-Shabaab.

As cited by the American military’s Africa Command-sponsored Sabahi.com, the al Qaeda allied al-Shabaab gang is warning residents in the south regions of Somalia not only to stay away from television because it “compromises their faith,” but that “hi-tech gadgets are tools used ‘to spy on Muslim people.'”

But Wait, There’s More…

A recent graduate of al-Shabaab's educational system.
A recent graduate of al-Shabaab’s educational system.

Reportedly, the very same Islamist militia currently running the southern part of Somalia warned parents “that sending their children to school could also harm their Islamic faith.”

Thirty four-year-old Somalian mother of five Maryan Borow was quoted as stating:

Al-Shabaab ordered us Barawe residents to attend religious sermons that will address Somali education, which they said would be changed so that Somali people could be taught the Christian religion.

It was a surprise to us and we do not know where they got that idea.

T. Kevin Whiteman

T. Kevin Whiteman

T. Kevin Whiteman is a retired Master Sergeant of Marines. He has written for Examiner, Conservative Firing Line, and other blogs.

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