BBC Radio 4’s big boy John Humphrys has written a feature for the British blue-top, the Daily Mail, on Pakistan’s madrassas. I’d be interested to read people’s views on this piece, particularly Humphry’s assertion that “many – probably the majority [of Pakistans madrassas]- are funded by the most extreme Muslim denomination, the Wahhabis” …and… “It was Wahhabis who flew the planes into the World Trade Centre and it is they who count Osama Bin Laden among their adherents.”
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thabet 1:43 am on July 5, 2009 Permalink |
I think it’s a bit simplistic. After all, many of these fanatics also hate the Saudi state.
bingregory 4:08 am on July 5, 2009 Permalink |
So? How does that complicate the picture? One generation of extremists condemning the previous generation of extremists for not being extreme enough is all. The article doesn’t claim that it is the Saudi state sending the money, and it doesn’t need to be – donations from wealthy individuals would suffice.
thabet 8:27 am on July 5, 2009 Permalink |
I bet you many of these people Humphreys met do not think of themselves as ‘Wahhabis’ and probably don’t have commonly associated ‘Wahhabi’ beliefs. Remember this?
I have no problem in pinning the blame on Saudi, mind you. They do share a lot of blame.
While what you say does happen, Humphreys links oil wealth to the fanaticism.
bingregory 6:35 pm on July 5, 2009 Permalink |
To clarify , by wealthy individuals I meant from Saudi/Gulf countries.
thabet 12:13 am on July 6, 2009 Permalink
CNN apparently did a documentary on this very school last year.
And let’s be honest: John Humphreys (and many people, including even Muslims) can’t the difference between a ‘Wahhabi’ and an Ash’ari.
bingregory 1:23 am on July 6, 2009 Permalink
I’m not in love with the article. My point of contention is that of course wahhabi influence doesn’t produce adherents to Saudi state theology. It alters and mixes with whatever is on the ground in that particular place. In Malaysia, hajjis routinely return with kilos of free books they were given during the hajj. They don’t start burning down maqams overnight. But it does throw people into confusion over standard elements of local religious practice, and over time affects their beliefs as well. Few would call themselves wahhabi or even salafi. But the effect is unmistakable. You’re right that most muslims don’t know they were raised shafii or ashari. That’s why their influence spreads so easily.