KARACHI, April 27: Representatives of Voice of Germany on Friday paid a visit to Jamia Al-Binnoria Almia in Site, where they were taken to different departments. During the visit they also exchanged views with Chancellor of the Jamia, Mufti Muhammad Naeem, regarding propaganda in the West about madressahs and the Jamia Hafsa issue.

Responding to questions, Mufti Naeem dispelled the impression of the West that madressahs were training camps or sanctuaries of terrorists. Terming it sheer propaganda, he said madressahs were places where pupils were taught that the Holy Quran was a complete code of life, and where they were trained to become men of high moral values and sound character.

“Madressahs are purely educational institutions, which are neither run at the behest of foreign instructions, nor are any non-curricular activities allowed,” Mufti Naeem clarified.

In reply to another question, he said that he had provided all those facilities to foreign students, which were available in Western educational institutions. This was why foreign students were more inclined to gain admission to Jamia Binnoria.

He said madressah students were neither involved in student unions, nor were they involved with any party politics or attacking teachers. No local or foreign madressah students were wanted in any court, nor was any case registered against them in any police station. Then why were madressah Ulema and students being targeted?, he asked.

Mufti Naeem stressed the need for foreign diplomats, delegates and local and foreign mediamen to visit madressahs so that their doubts about these institutions could be dispelled.

Regarding the Jamia Hafsa issue, he said it was a manifestation of the weaknesses of the government’s policies.

He said although it was a private matter of that seminary’s management, however, Lal Masjid’s stand was correct, but the procedure they had adopted could not be supported as it was against Sharia.