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ISLAMABAD: Uzma Qayyum, the 26-year-old girl who is allegedly detained at the Jamia Hafsa against her will, appeared before a sessions court on Thursday and said she did not want to return to her family.
The girl was accompanied in the courtroom by Umme Hassan, head of the seminary and wife of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz, as well as other men and women from the seminaries.
Also read: Distraught man claims daughter being ‘held’ in Jamia Hafsa
The court then ordered her to appear again on Jan 20.
Through the court’s intervention, Uzma’s father, Sheikh Muhammad Qayyum, was finally able to meet his daughter after seven months.
Emotional scenes witnessed as court officials try to convince Uzma to return home, girl’s father claims she has been ‘brainwashed’ by Lal Masjid
However, he still could not convince her to come back home.
High Court Advocate Haider Imtiaz, who is representing Mr Qayyum, told Dawn that although the girl appeared before court, she was accompanied by a number of people who appeared to be associated with Jamia Hafsa, which was why she has been summoned again.
Mr Qayyum told Dawn that as soon as the hearing began, the judge instructed Umme Hassan, her associates and his family to leave the courtroom. The judge then spoke to Uzma, in the presence of court staff, for about half an hour. He then proceeded to invite her mother inside the courtroom and fifteen minutes later, he was also asked to join them as well.
“As we were meeting our daughter after so many months, it was a very emotional scene and everyone had tears in their eyes. During our meeting, the judge and court staff all urged Uzma to return to her family. They said that no one could take the place of one’s parents and Islam also taught us to obey their wishes,” he said.
Mr Qayyum said that the family also tried to convince Uzma to come back to them, but in vain. “It seems that Umme Hassan has brainwashed my daughter. The judge offered to have her sent to the Darul Amaan or to a relative’s house, but my daughter refused. She repeatedly said that she wanted to go back to Jamia Hafsa,” he said.
The court then ordered that Uzma’s statement to be recorded on Jan 20. Her father said that he would again try to convince her to return home at the next hearing. Mr Qayyum alleged that during the hearing, Umme Hassan was in constant contact with someone on her mobile phone.
On Wednesday, Umme Hassan had told Dawn that no one from Jamia Hafsa would accompany the girl to the hearing on Thursday and she would have no objections if the girl chose to return to her family.
On December 29, 2014, Mr Qayyum had filed an application with the Human Rights Cell (HRC) of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to have his daughter recovered from Jamia Hafsa.
In his application, he alleged that his daughter was being held captive by the Jamia Hafsa administration on the premises of the seminary.
The Supreme Court had ordered Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmad Gujana to investigate the matter and submit a report. On Wednesday, the court had ordered Islamabad Police to produce the girl in court on Thursday.
Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015
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Comments (62) Closed
Jan 16, 2015 06:46am
Of course she have been brain washed
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Jan 16, 2015 07:40am
So, is she detained in Lal masjid? Or staying with her will.
I wonder why she can't just go back to her parents and come only to study after all parents have more right. Unless she is scared of her parents - just thinking out loud.
May Allah make her go with her parents and they let her study and they all keep good relation. Ameen!
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Jan 16, 2015 07:52am
the judge has no business asking the girl to return-and talking about her islamic duty--judges are paid to administer justice accordin to law not to preach like mullahs or act like social workers
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Jan 16, 2015 07:52am
Is she a runaway kid! Where were the parents before this drama unfolded publicly? Why now?
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Jan 16, 2015 08:04am
Very odd ?
Threats to harm family ? Or she really doesn't want to go back ?
Brainwashing 26 year old is hard to believe.
Seems like there may be something we all don't know.
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Jan 16, 2015 08:14am
As a 26-year old, the woman is free to go where she wants, as long as there has been no coercion.
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Jan 16, 2015 08:28am
The fight against terrorism will just prove to be non starter if the government doesn't fight extrimism. If they can have such a place of producing brainwashed ladies just under their own nose then how can you expect the rulers to act else where. Just imagin, if this girl is told by the trrorists to bomb somewhere, what are the chances that she will refuse? JUST IMAGINE, you are fighting an enemy but at the same time you are allowing the enemy to have 40000 factories producing robotic soldiers for them. FOR GOD sake spend the money needed to take over and run these madrassahs under the government and spare us from metroes, motorways and other such luxuries. Introduce all other subjects of normal schools and a moderate interpretation of Islam with some type of technical education in these madrassahs. Let them be builders, plumbers, motor mechanic, electritions and so on at the same that they learn islam.
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Jan 16, 2015 08:35am
A female in her teens is a girl. A 26 year old female is a woman. Why is Dawn referring to Uzma Qayyum as a 26-year-old girl?
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Jan 16, 2015 08:52am
These people are a serious threat to Pakistan.
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Jan 16, 2015 09:08am
Although I am no fan of Lal Masjid or the terrorist sympathizers who control it, I think pressuring a 26-year-old individual by the judge and the court staff to go against her wishes is disgusting. If we want to become a mature society in which a "baligh" individual is allowed to exercise free will we have to learn to take risks.
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Jan 16, 2015 09:19am
Another lie against Jamia Hafsa exposed! Dawn should investigate why the girl doesn't want to return to her home to her parents, our country is full of sick people, resulting in abusive relationships, forced marriages, selling ones daughters etc.
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Jan 16, 2015 09:26am
Infants, children, and young adults should be taught at home, by their mothers and fathers. Parents should imbibe in the young, qualities of love, compassion, equality, respect, tolerance, hope, charity, all the good that humans can show towards fellow human beings, these qualities are best taught to infants at the most crucial state of their lives, i.e. when they are young and impressionable. leaving the upbringing to others is to absolve one of one's most important responsibility. Pakistan society has to recognize this simple fact, that it is much much better that children be taught at home.
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Jan 16, 2015 10:27am
Parents hold a very high place in a person's life. Disobeying them and denying them their due place is a serious religious, ethical and moral issue. However, she has been brainwashed beyond redemption. What else do we need before we ban these people and put them behind bar.
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Jan 16, 2015 10:36am
For heaven's sake she is not a 26 year old girl. 26 years old is an adult and her decision has to be respected. She has spent her entire life with her family and a women can brainwash her in 7 months? It is her parent's fault that she was not loved so much to have her stick around or could change her mind even in isolation.
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Jan 16, 2015 10:37am
That's a typical trick by these clerics. They brainwash young people and keep them away from reality. In this case also, Lal Masjid was able to sell this young girl the dreams of "Janaat". Sometime it's also the peer pressure that keep these young people stick to the ideology.
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Jan 16, 2015 11:18am
How strange? Not ready to live and serve the parent and want to live in Jamia Hafsa in the name of religion. And in the name of that religion which teaches to serve the parents with no demand or return; the religion which teaches not to utter a single word against parents, even if they scold unnecessarily. The religion which teaches that selfless serving to mother and father leads straight to heaven.
And yes, nobody said that parents were used to beat her to death or sell her for money. They are like normal people.
Still, what a perfect brainwashing !!!
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Jan 16, 2015 11:49am
Why did the whole Jamia brigade was accompanying her? Isnt she old enough to appear in court by herself? surely something sounds fishy.
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Jan 16, 2015 11:50am
Returning home and do household works is secondary to no work, just pray, eat, play with others.
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Jan 16, 2015 12:02pm
Can the honorable court bring a psychiatrist to get to the extent of brainwashing! I see serious and terrifying consequences if someone is able to control the minds of people.
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Jan 16, 2015 12:56pm
Its totally outrageous by the judge to become a party by convincing her to go back home. She is an adult female and she can do whatever she wants with her life. These liberals are screaming because she wants to live in an religious seminary, if she would have been eloped by a person and would not want to go back to her home, all these pseudo liberals would be the voice of the girl. last time i heard that Pakistan is a democratic country, not some jail that people could infringe the freedom of expression. Why would any one have a problem if Umme Hassan was constantly using her phone, would they ask another female why she is using her phone or they would need a permission to use the phone even ?. I lived all my life in USA but can't stand this hypocrisy which is at its best that if someone who is 26 and a mentally stable person and can decide to do whatever with her life is being forced to leave the environment she has chosen on her own wishes. Yes I accept that Obedience to parents has greatest priority in a muslim male or a female's life, but you got to draw a distinction between obedience and a slavery. Please stop cherry picking Maulana Abdul Aziz and his Madrassa because if the names start to pop up who supported militants, there will be lots of names the liberal won't like to hear because most of names are from liberals themselves.
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Jan 16, 2015 04:06pm
She must have been threatened that her parents would be killed if she chose to move out of Lal Masjid.... No daughter would like her parents to be killed because of her..... She would prefer to sacrifice herself for the safety of her parents......
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Jan 16, 2015 05:05pm
please also mention what the Girl said in the courtroom, why doesn't she want to return back?
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Jan 16, 2015 06:02pm
its interesting to knw dat the court suggested a daar ul amaan for her... why a dar ul amaan...
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Jan 16, 2015 07:12pm
There are so many questions;
26 years old is not a girl. she is a mature lady. What Dawn is trying to twist it to?
And from a previous news items, she is also well educated.
Question to father: what did you taught her in 26 years? how good was you? and now 'they' brain washed her? wow!
Court staff and judge tried to convince to her to go "anywhere" is obstruction to justice.
Where is Civil society and the Liberals and Bar council?
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Jan 16, 2015 07:13pm
@NASR was you watching her brain being washed? LOL. she is a 26 years old Lady. please think.
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Jan 16, 2015 07:14pm
@BeFair and did not you wonder what her parents taught her for 26 years? and court trying to convince her was obstruction to justice?
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Jan 16, 2015 07:17pm
@Hashim you mean the people who are forcing a 26 years old educated lady to go against her will. very right.
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Jan 16, 2015 07:21pm
@Kashif Jilani wow! do you know what 'Jilani' relates to?
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Jan 16, 2015 07:25pm
@Sarfraz and how do you come to know this?
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Jan 16, 2015 08:05pm
What type of brain washing is this. Is it really brain washing. I don't believe this.
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Jan 16, 2015 08:05pm
@NASR Brain washed using what ?
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Jan 16, 2015 08:07pm
@Sarfraz ...maybe parents were abusive! People who can wash their dirty linen outside have no credibility.Maybe she ran away from home and Masjid took her in and now if she is brainwashed its because they kindly with love snd care indoctrinated her.Who is to blame here,the parents,girl or her mentor?
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Jan 16, 2015 08:16pm
This lady should be sent to a psychiatric clinic for a couple of months. After that she can make her own decision.
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Jan 16, 2015 08:29pm
If a boy can be brain washed to become a suicide bomber and blow himself up in pieces then certainly this 26 years old can be brain washed who is refusing to go back to her parents.
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Jan 16, 2015 08:32pm
anyone think of notion she is under threat and her life and family maybe threatened if she leaves? If she leaves any guarantee her family or herself will be safe and provided protection?
What was the last time anything constructive or positive came out of this sanctuary where Mullah hides
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Jan 16, 2015 08:36pm
A 26 year old can do whatever she wants. Her father has no case here.
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Jan 16, 2015 08:40pm
I suggest Court to move Uzma Qayyum, the 26-year-old girl to a safe women shelter house for six weeks where she will not be allowed to meet her parents or any one from Jamia Hafsa or any other religious organization.
I am sure after six weeks Uzma will be able to make an independent decision with her free will.
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Jan 16, 2015 09:36pm
@Zee ,nobody in his senses will like to abandon his daughter,or sister anywhere ,be it a seminary or not..
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Jan 16, 2015 09:38pm
not necessarily a case of brainwash,as i see she is 26 year old,..but can certainly be a case of blackmail or threat in some way which we dont know
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Jan 16, 2015 09:50pm
@muslim Not if the judge feels that some one is kept against their will. Brain washed people are found in abundance in our society.
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Jan 16, 2015 09:58pm
Lets get all of them out off the Lal Masjid first. Then worry about where this sick girl wants to go.
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Jan 16, 2015 09:58pm
Stockholm Syndrome, look it up.
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Jan 16, 2015 09:59pm
I am little confused. How in the first place she went to Jamia? did her parents sent her there? or she left her home on her own?
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Jan 16, 2015 11:20pm
Something mentally wrong with this girl or she has been brained washed by Lal Masjid keepers.
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Jan 16, 2015 11:25pm
There has to be more to the story.
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Jan 16, 2015 11:37pm
This Lal Masjid is definitely being used for some covert activities of terrorists. This Masjid and the related Jamia Hafsa is kind of den of these terror plots. Our innocent people forgot what had happened in the past. Our memories are very short. We are fighting with terrorists and they are being milked in the heart and lap of Islamabad.
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Jan 16, 2015 11:55pm
In a religious cult it is easy to brain wash adults irrespective of age. As we have witnessed in Waco Texas. Now you can listen to survivors about the technique used.
We in Pakistan need to dismantle this cult and provide rehab to the brainwashed youngsyers
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Jan 17, 2015 12:09am
Lal masjid should have been a place where importance of parents were highlighted to anyone fleeing home. Alas its not so. What should i call it then a service to the society or destruction of it.
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Jan 17, 2015 01:26am
I might have read in the past somewhere that her parents wants to force her in marriage she did not approve of. Unfortunately some parent in Pakistan treat their daughters worst than animals, and the judge has no business preaching this girls to go with her parents.
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Jan 17, 2015 01:56am
Young women are no longer "girls". Many of them run away in lots of cultures if the parents are threatening, or too heavy handed. The parents are not innocent in this case on either hand, We don't know all the facts.
I could tell you stories ....
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Jan 17, 2015 01:59am
@Amad "Another lie against Jamia Hafsa exposed!"
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Jan 17, 2015 02:39am
She is 26 years old. She can choose where she wants to live. Brainwashed or not. It would be her determination. Perhaps her emotional needs are more satisfied now than in the family where there may be more demands placed on her. The other side could be that she fears going back for repercussions from her current keepers. A Judge can choose to moralize as per his beliefs, just as her keepers are doing. A Court is not a sterile, cold, chamber. Of course the Court is required and will follow the law.
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Jan 17, 2015 02:45am
this masjid and so many others are responsible for misguiding and brain washing our youth into committing crimes against humanity n the name of religion. These madrasah's need to be banned. Only secular education should be allowed.
Leave the teaching of religion to parents.
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Jan 17, 2015 04:26am
This personal issue of a family is distracting everybody from the bigger/real issue. Ms. Hassan should be held and tried for the recent pro ISIS videos released and other anti-pakistan activities from the female regiment of Jamia. She is walking in and out of court jurisdiction with a record of criminal activities.
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Jan 17, 2015 04:31am
Consider this! A school is being run, not for runaway kids, mind you, and parents allege that so and so is being held hostage etc. Why, would the principal accompany the student to the court? The girl/woman controversy aside, the possibility of parental abuse aside, why is the principal an enthusiastic party? This is a replay of cult communes you heard about in USA sometime back.
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Jan 17, 2015 04:58am
This Lal Masjid is funded by Malik Riaz this is what the agencies report say and Malik Riaz does not deny this. The whole world knows Malik Riaz gets this corrupt money through corrupt and illegal earnings supported by Nawaz sharif and Asif Zardari. Malik Riaz also paid money to Zardari to make Najam Sethi caretaker Punjab chief minister. Corrupt supporting corrupts and now funding Lal masjid too. Allah hafiz pakistan
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Jan 17, 2015 06:11am
How do you define 'brainwashing'? Billion Hindus are Hindus because they were 'born as Hindus' and their parents and their society 'brainwash' all the time. Billion Muslims are Muslims because their parents, friends, and the society they keep, 'brainwash' them. If your parents do not talk about religion, you do not go to a mosque (temple), you do not read religious books or watch preachers' sermons, you will not get 'brainwashed'.
The point is: A woman (or a man), who has been in Jamia Hafsa like environment 24 hours a day for the last seven months, will definitely get 'brainwashed'. Let this woman, and other women, expose to open environment and then ask her to decide what to do.
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Jan 17, 2015 07:07am
To me it appears as a case of Stockholm syndrome. Here goes the details:
Stockholm syndrome can be seen as a form of traumatic bonding, which does not necessarily require a hostage scenario, but which describes "strong emotional ties that develop between two persons where one person intermittently harasses, beats, threatens, abuses, or intimidates the other. One commonly used hypothesis to explain the effect of Stockholm syndrome is based on Freudian theory. It suggests that the bonding is the individual's response to trauma in becoming a victim. Identifying with the aggressor is one way that the ego defends itself. When a victim believes the same values as the aggressor, they cease to be perceived as a threat.
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Jan 17, 2015 12:52pm
Has the Lal Masjid allowed her to exercise her FREE rights.......I doubt it.
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Jan 18, 2015 06:14am
At 26, she is a woman, not a girl - and more than capable of making her own decisions, regardless of whether they are right ones or wrong ones.
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Jan 18, 2015 06:14am
@BeFair Why would a grown woman want to live with her parents???
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Jan 22, 2015 04:30pm
This is completely ridiculous. Without any details of the case, clearly it is impossible to place blame on either party. What is wrong with Pakistani people? So quick to condemn others without waiting for facts. Maybe the family was abusive so she sought shelter elsewhere. Maybe she IS afraid to return home. Point is, we DONT know.
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