[asia-apec 1635] Fw: Horror of Fundamentalism..SOS from Pakistan

[winner white]

----- Original Message -----
From: Fayaz Aziz <rbathyd at usa.net>
To: <worldsindhi at egroups.com>; <sindhorg at egroups.com>; 
<wsc-network at egroups.com>; <helpasia at egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2000 7:40 PM
Subject: [wsc-network] Horror of Fundamentalism..SOS


While we are busy in discussing the issues of international politics, IMF, 
World Bank, revolution, globalization, environment, provincial autonomy, 
nationalism and modern and classic literature the molvis, mullas, talibs, 
and religious fanatics are destroying ile already wounded Sindh, Balochistan 
and Seraiki belt of Pakistan,
economically and socially. The ban on modern English education, activities 
of NGOs and progressive literature, repression of women, many of whom live 
like prisoners in their own homes, is only a harsh symptom of a larger 
disease. Poor peasants / farmers, villagers, students and women of small 
villages and towns like Ghotki, Jacobabad, Bhan Seedabad, Sujawal, Amrot, 
Shahdadpur, Arore, Dighri, Qamabar, Sanghar, Sukkur, Tando Mohammad Khan, 
Pano Aqil, Mirpur Mathelo, Tando Bago, Pir Jo Goth, Larkana, Hala, Dadu,  
Mithi, Shikarpur, Mirpur Sakro and  Mehar, who came  to Talibs, Mullas and 
Madarsas to get shelter under the umbrella of  renowned religious tolerance 
and equity feel that they are on the front lines of a battle for survival. 
They see their children in danger of growing up without a future. Everyone 
wants to know where the next generation of doctors, lawyers and other 
professionals will be found.

In remote rural villages of Sindh, Balochistan and Seraiki:

1. The molvis  / mullas have decreed that women could no longer work and 
study and must be veiled in the all-enveloping chador, shuttlecock burqa, 
they can not marry the groom of their choice they can not refuse to marry 
elderly sick married men. They have been forced to remain in their homes and 
even not allowed to visit hospitals and rural health centers and to die of 
suffocation.


2. Small boys as well as girls are being denied education because many
teachers were women who have not been replaced, and their male counterparts 
who remained in the schools are often not paid and therefore do not show up. 
The mullas and madarsa teachers have also been found involved in sodomy and 
small kids often abused and have been subjected to sexual violence.

3. Photography has been declared forbidden and even in a sporting events, 
display of legs has been declared punishable offence.  In remote villages 
and surrounding areas of Madarsas they do not permit un-bearded participants 
to play games, but they insist on wearing above-the-ankle shalwars and 
below-the-knees qameezes, black turbans and chaddars slung over their 
shoulders.

4. Many families of madarsa affected villages have lost the income not only 
of
women but also of youth who have left due to restriction, or were thrown out
of villages by mullas.

5. They justify, facilitate, support and encourage the trafficking of AK47 
and
other weapons and use of local made drugs including NASWAR, OPIUM, HEROIN 
and
BHANG. Their leaders and Mullas import these drugs from Afghanistan which
produced 4,600 tons of opium last year, more than doubling its 1998 output,
and accounting for 75 per cent of the total world opium production for the
1998-1999 season, according to ODCCP. The total estimated production of
illicit opium for 1999 was about 6,000 metric tons, roughly 60 per cent more
than the 3,750 metric tons recorded in 1998.

6. They talk in favour of peace but their peace is similar as "stillness 
after
war". There peace in those villages is similar as Curfew, because people 
know
that if they say any thing they will be hanged on the street and will be 
shot
to death and their bodies will be chopped and remain there to decompose.

7. The Mullas / Moulvis have frequently been criticized by Western 
governments
and non-governmental organizations for enforcing strict rules on what women
must wear, but now they have banned men from wearing western clothes and a
displaying of flesh. Last month a  Madarsa administration near Sukkur 
arrested
a group of students from Nawabshah  for wearing trousers.  The Mulla  said 
the
wearing of  tight trousers   near the Madarsa violated the Islamic dress 
code
hence the students were not only arrested and tortured  but also had their
heads shaved as punishment.

WHAT HAS TO BE DONE:

1. Re-organization of radical-nationalist,  progressive and democratic
political activities.
2. Re-opening of Study Circles,  libraries, ideological debates.
3. NGO / CBO activities and networking.
4. Cultural activities, musical programs.
5. Anniversaries of legends.
6. Anti fundamentalism lectures  based on tolerant, moderate mystic 
teachings of Shah Latif , Buley Shah, Hafiz, Sami, Sachal, Kabir, Omar 
Khayam. Farid and others.
7. Establishment of Coeducation Schools and colleges in interior Sindh.
8. Facilitating and encouraging the English language, computer studies and
internet use in villages.
9. Coordination between media, human rights and advocacy organization, NGOs
and political parties.
10. Revival of progressive and democratic Sindh of late sixties and 
seventies.



We trust that you will continue to support struggle against the terror and
horror of expected fundamentalist rule in Peace loving Sindh.

By: Students of Sindh University, Mehran Engineering University Jamshoro and
LMC Sindh Pakistan

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.