Malala Yousafzai's Book Is Banned In Pakistani Private Schools

[88m3]

by Eyder Peralta

November 10, 2013 4:36 PM

Malala Yousafzai's book, I Am Malala, has been banned in private schools across Pakistan.

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
An organization representing 40,000 private schools in Pakistan says it has decided to ban I Am Malala, a memoir written by Malala Yousafzai, the teenager shot by the Taliban for promoting the education of girls.

, president of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association, who said Malala was "representing the West, not us."

The AP adds:

"Kashif Mirza, the chairman of the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation, said his group also has banned Malala's book in its affiliated schools.

"Malala 'was a role model for children, but this book has made her controversial,' Mirza said. 'Through this book, she became a tool in the hands of the Western powers.'

"He said the book did not show enough respect for Islam because it mentioned Prophet Muhammad's name without using the abbreviation PUH — 'peace be upon him' — as is customary in many parts of the Muslim world. He also said it spoke favorably of author Salman Rushdie, who angered many Muslims with his book 'The Satanic Verses,' and Ahmadis, members of a minority sect that have been declared non-Muslims under Pakistani law."

Yousafzai has been touring the world with her book. In many interviews, . When she was in the United States, and told him his use of drones "are fueling terrorism."

that Mirza said that academics concluded that Malala's book will leave students in a "confused state of mind."

The book, Pakistan Today notes, ignited passions as soon as it was published:

"Renowned journalists — Ansar Abbasi and Talat Hussain — criticised her for showing a complete disregard for the sentiments of Muslims besides creating a doubt in their articles that a 16-year-old could actually write such an in-depth analysis on international relations.

"On the other hand, renowned physicist and academician Professor Pervaiz Hoodbuoy defended her for her writings and bravery. Supporters of both sides have been slugging it out on the social media since Abbasi and Hoodbuoy got into a heated debate on a TV show defending their viewpoints."


http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...s-book-is-banned-in-pakistani-private-schools


Comments section is brutal



@alybaba​

 

[alybaba]

1. APPSF doesn't cover all private schools, most decent to good schools aren't even in it.

2. Not surprised, APPSF schools tend to serve lower middle class populations who are more on the religious side and because the conservatives have been barking on about Malala talking against Islam (the key issue here is a paragraph in which is talking about her father's rationale for Rushdie's free speech rights when it comes to Satanic verses, which is an absolute no-no in conservative Pakistan).

3. It's widely available at bookstores, saw it at my local store, upfront and centre.


But this is just a sideshow. Current debate is about the TTP. First, leaders of religious parties called Hakimullah Mehsud a martyr, particularly JI chief Munawar Hussain. He then said that even a dog killed by the Americans in a martyr. Then he said that Pakistani army personnel who have died fighting in the War on terror are not martyrs. That started a backlash and the Army PR unit made a statement criticizing him, which is new, since JI and the Army have allies for decades.

 

[88m3]

1. APPSF doesn't cover all private schools, most decent to good schools aren't even in it.

2. Not surprised, APPSF schools tend to serve lower middle class populations who are more on the religious side and because the conservatives have been barking on about Malala talking against Islam (the key issue here is a paragraph in which is talking about her father's rationale for Rushdie's free speech rights when it comes to Satanic verses, which is an absolute no-no in conservative Pakistan).

3. It's widely available at bookstores, saw it at my local store, upfront and centre.


But this is just a sideshow. Current debate is about the TTP. First, leaders of religious parties called Hakimullah Mehsud a martyr, particularly JI chief Munawar Hussain. He then said that even a dog killed by the Americans in a martyr. Then he said that Pakistani army personnel who have died fighting in the War on terror are not martyrs. That started a backlash and the Army PR unit made a statement criticizing him, which is new, since JI and the Army have allies for decades.

Are the majority of APPSF schools religious or just conservative leaning? I haven't read Malala's book or know anything about it. I guess I also didn't realize that there was still a lot of anger over the Satanic Verses still either. It pops up sporadically in the media that xyz is upset with /violence directed at Rushdie. Do you think Rushdie was intentionally trolling/being spiteful when he wrote the Satanic Verses?


Do the JI have much clout and power in politics or is it more on a social level? I can see the comment about the Pakistani military not going over well. Much like America I would imagine everyone must know or be related to someone in the military. Pakistani's also has a lot of pride in their military and it seems like it's an intricate part of the society.

Do you think the Americans are deliberately destabilizing the "peace talks"? I saw that one of the Haqqani's was also killed yesterday who was supposedly part of setting up talks, although I'm not sure if they were part of the same talks that Mehsud was involved in.