Report: Pakistan Madrassas Fueling Radicalism and Inequality

A report issued on Thursday has raised serious questions about Pakistan’s madrassa education system, characterizing it as a source of both opportunity and significant risk. While madrassas provide religious education and a haven for the poor, the findings suggest they also play a role in nurturing extremism, deepening social inequalities, and enabling abuse. The international community is keenly interested in Pakistan’s commitment to its educational responsibilities and its strategies to counter radicalization originating from any quarter. The report underscores the deep societal and political divisions that manifest in the separation between mainstream secular education and religious seminaries, known as madrassas. For years, madrassas have faced accusations of propagating extremist ideologies that run counter to peace and global norms. A pivotal moment was the 2005 Red Mosque incident in Islamabad, where a madrassa played a role in a confrontation with the state, leading to a violent outcome and increased scrutiny of these institutions as potential centers for radicalization. The report also cites comments from Pakistan’s Defence Minister, suggesting that madrassa students represent a ‘second line of defence,’ which is widely interpreted as an acknowledgment of the state’s complex relationship with these religious schools and their potential use in certain contexts. This perception solidifies the view of madrassas as active ‘ideological pipelines’ for extremist narratives. Beyond radicalization, the report highlights how madrassas contribute to socioeconomic inequality by offering a curriculum heavily weighted towards religious studies, often at the expense of vital secular subjects such as science and mathematics. This educational imbalance can hinder students’ future opportunities. Furthermore, the report brings attention to alarming patterns of abuse within some madrassas, including instances of sexual violence. Children from low-income families are sometimes placed in these schools for safety but end up being victims of exploitation by authority figures. The report indicates that some madrassas may be involved in concealing these abuses, a problem perpetuated by a lack of accountability and societal silence.