PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW): A number of religious scholars and civil society organizations in northern Baghlan province are anxious about the reports that some seminaries are preaching extremism and anti-government sentiments.
Baghlan civil society fear if the provincial education department failed to monitor the activities of such seminaries, many students from here would join the ranks of the armed rebels.
Mawlana Syed Naqeeb, a local religious scholar believed that the officials associated with the education and literacy should supervise the activities of all seminaries across the country to make sure they do not serve as breeding ground for the terrorists. “Students are being taught foreign norms and traditions in the disguise of religious studies, what they are preaching have nothing to do with the religion”.
In the meantime, Mohammad Aatif Aarifyan a local civil society activist told Salam Watandar that if not curtailed, some of these seminaries might well lead to an armed rebellion against the government.
He feared if the central government failed to control such affairs in Baghlan, it would not only harm the province itself but also the regional provinces.
Abdul Qadir Rasuli, the interim head of provincial education department argued that situation is well under control.
Discarding the reports about some seminaries preaching extremism, he said seminaries are regularly monitored by the local as well as officials from the central government.
According to official figures, some 35 seminaries and high schools for religious studies are registered in Baghlan. Five such seminaries are said to be under the Taliban-controlled areas. A total of around 10 thousand boys and girls are said to be studying in them.
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