THIS is apropos Pervez Hoodbhoy’s article ‘Math in our madressahs?’ (July 18). There is no doubt the subjects mentioned by the writer should be included in madressah curriculums. However, the existing syllabus should at the same time be revised, moving away from building up hatred.

This will change the big picture in the long run, though we know that some of the suspects at home and abroad did study secular subjects and came from modern educational backgrounds and well-settled professional careers.

Some examples are the suspects arrested in the Safoora firing incident. They also allegedly admitted to firing on American teacher Debra Lobo and Sabeen Mahmud.

The need is to tackle the warped ‘narrative of violence’ that is being spread by using all mediums available, including technology-based social networking. Moderate forces should build a strong counter-narrative to neutralise the rhetoric of terror and destruction.

Besides, the state should demonstrate how to co-exist in peace and use our knowledge to invent and innovate rather than destroy everything in the name of religion.

Anas A. Khan
Canada

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2015

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