Since students all over the world have a right to be violent, they are easy prey to all sorts of extremist-provocations. Also like all students everywhere, this gives them an opportunity to avoid studying. Iraqi students are using their sectarian identities to threaten each other and their teachers. The students have now put on a mask of religiosity. But in fact it is all about escapism. Academics scare most. The Holy Quran starts with the word Iqra; it exhorts one to read and search for knowledge, for meaning in life. It does not ask anyone to murder.
East Baghdad’s Mustansiriya University has become a Shiite stronghold. There are now regular celebrations of the birth of Shiite imams like Hassan al Askari. Gun trotting guards heckle Sunni students if they do not join in the celebrations. An unnoticed fact in the midst of US provoked civil war is the blow suffered by the education system of the country.
Newsweek presents the stark figures of the casualties released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO points out the irony that Shias kill Sunnis for having once supporting the Saddam regime, while the Sunnis kill the Shias for not supporting Saddam. Students are now trapped in this vicious circle of revenge.
The Islamic world had once long ago ushered in the Renaissance in Europe. When Muslim scholars with their humanist leaning had entered Italy and Spain through Turkey, they had amazed European theologians. They had dispelled the darkness of the Dark Ages. So it is expected that Islamic universities would be beacons of new and liberal learning. Instead, what we find is shameful. The blood tide is loosened and the lights of the world are going out fast. We have another generation of half-learned bigots. They are unable to take Iraq forward, but only aid the march of this retreating world.
Also the students’ are destroying their chances to ever develop Iraq. The US wants Iraqi citizens to remain foolish. This way they can claim to the world that Iraqis are incapable of ruling themselves. This will be the continuing excuse for the Americans to remain in Iraq.
Via: Newsweek
Image: William Bowles
