Jamia Hafsa
Encyclopedia
Jamia Hafsa is a madrassa adjacent to the Lal Masjid
complex in Islamabad
, the capital of Pakistan
. Known for its anti-government stance and fringe conservatism, it has been criticized for ignoring the main challenges faced by Muslims, and getting involved in publicity stunts like burning CDs and kidnapping Chinese nationals accusing them of running an undercover brothel
.
Leaders of the mosque were said to be on very good terms with the ruling party
chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
and the minister for religious affairs Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq
. Shujaat Hussain also had good terms with General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
, the longest serving military dictator in the history of Pakistan (and the father of Ijaz-ul-Haq). The seminary, and the adjoining Lal Mosque, was owned by two brothers and clerics, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid Ghazi
, until the Lal Masjid operation started and in the ensuing struggle, older brother Abdul Aziz was arrested and younger one Rashid Ghazi was killed.
(translated as Red Mosque). The foundation stone of Jamia Hafsa was laid down by Maulana Muhammad Abdullah, the father of Ghazi brothers. Jamia Hafsa houses approximately 6500 students.
Jamia Hafsa is the largest school in the Islamic world educating female students. Although they are taught subjects like mathematics and geography, they are not tested on them. Their exams are only on matters relating to Islam.
On March 28, 2007, a brothel house in the locality was raided by female students from the madrassa, the owner of the house, her daughter and her daughter-in-law were abducted by the students and held hostage at the madrassa. Two policemen were also abducted after two female madrassa teachers were arrested in connection with the raid; the policemen were later released in return for the teachers.
lobbies associated themselves with the Jamia Hafsa administration, many raised questions about the motives of the administration behind certain acts, for example, ignoring controversy about the Knighthood of author Salman Rushdie, instead kidnapping Chinese nationals claiming they were running an undercover brothel.
Wafaq ul Madaris (Governing Body of Seminaries) suspended Jamia Hafsa's membership after pressure from the Government, according to Islamic scholars. Wafaq ul Madaris was later forced by the government to cancel their registration. The majority ulema of Pakistan viewed cleric Qari Hanif Jalandhri as an agent of the government due to his support of Ijaz-ul-Haq.
Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa students raided a Chinese massage center in Sector F-8/3 and took hostage five Chinese nationals, including three women and two men, Two vehicles full of armed seminary students raided the massage center, abducted staff and brought them to the mosque. The Jamia Hafsa administration alleged that a brothel was being run under the garb of a massage center. The Lal Masjid clerics could not be contacted as they had switched off their mobile phones. Islamabad Capital Territory
(ICT) officials reached the seminary and were trying to secure the release of the abducted Chinese through dialogue. Earlier, the students had abducted the alleged brothel owner and released her after a couple of days. They had also abducted and later released two police personnel.
In May 2007, baton-wielding students from a mosque associated with the movement took four Pakistan police as hostages, demanding the release of ten associates who had been arrested by intelligence officers. This kind of controversy finally led to the siege of the Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid started on July 3, 2007.
Lal Masjid
The Lal Masjid is a mosque located in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. A religious school for women, the Jamia Hafsa madrasah, and a male madrasah, Jamia Faridia are attached to the mosque.-History:...
complex in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, the capital of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Known for its anti-government stance and fringe conservatism, it has been criticized for ignoring the main challenges faced by Muslims, and getting involved in publicity stunts like burning CDs and kidnapping Chinese nationals accusing them of running an undercover brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
.
Leaders of the mosque were said to be on very good terms with the ruling party
Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
The Pakistan Muslim League or officially Pakistan Muslim League is a centrist, modern political party in Pakistan. The present form of PML-Q was formed prior to 2002 general elections....
chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is a politician from Pakistan who was the Prime Minister of that country from June 30, 2004 until August 28 2004...
and the minister for religious affairs Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq
Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq
Ch Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq is a prominent Pakistani politician and a businessman who served as a Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Minorities under the Government of Prime minister Shaukat Aziz. A former Pakistan Army officer, Haq joined the Pakistan Army in 1971, as second lieutnenat, but...
. Shujaat Hussain also had good terms with General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq , was the 4th Chief Martial Law Administrator and the sixth President of Pakistan from July 1977 to his death in August 1988...
, the longest serving military dictator in the history of Pakistan (and the father of Ijaz-ul-Haq). The seminary, and the adjoining Lal Mosque, was owned by two brothers and clerics, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid Ghazi
Abdul Rashid Ghazi
Abdul Rashid Ghazi was an Islamist Pakistani cleric; son of Maulana Muhammad Abdullah, and younger brother of Abdul Aziz Ghazi. He was descended from the Sadwani clan of Mazari tribe in the town of Rojhan in Rajanpur, the border district of Punjab province of Pakistan.Abdul Rashid Ghazi was killed...
, until the Lal Masjid operation started and in the ensuing struggle, older brother Abdul Aziz was arrested and younger one Rashid Ghazi was killed.
History
Jamia Hafsa was built in Islamabad in 1992. It was constructed on land said to be owned by the madrassa's administration, and was affiliated with the adjoining central mosque of Islamabad, Lal MasjidLal Masjid
The Lal Masjid is a mosque located in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. A religious school for women, the Jamia Hafsa madrasah, and a male madrasah, Jamia Faridia are attached to the mosque.-History:...
(translated as Red Mosque). The foundation stone of Jamia Hafsa was laid down by Maulana Muhammad Abdullah, the father of Ghazi brothers. Jamia Hafsa houses approximately 6500 students.
Jamia Hafsa is the largest school in the Islamic world educating female students. Although they are taught subjects like mathematics and geography, they are not tested on them. Their exams are only on matters relating to Islam.
Vigilantes
On February 21, 2007, the Hafsa students occupied an Islamabad children's public library. The occupation was said to be due to the demolition of mosques in the capital by the CDA (capital development authority) due to their illegal construction and alleged security risk.On March 28, 2007, a brothel house in the locality was raided by female students from the madrassa, the owner of the house, her daughter and her daughter-in-law were abducted by the students and held hostage at the madrassa. Two policemen were also abducted after two female madrassa teachers were arrested in connection with the raid; the policemen were later released in return for the teachers.
Distancing of All the Notable religious scholars from this controversy
None of the notable Muslim scholars or pro-Taliban/Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
lobbies associated themselves with the Jamia Hafsa administration, many raised questions about the motives of the administration behind certain acts, for example, ignoring controversy about the Knighthood of author Salman Rushdie, instead kidnapping Chinese nationals claiming they were running an undercover brothel.
Controversy
In April 2007, Maulana Abdul Aziz (Hifzulllah) announced that a Qazi court composed of ten Lal Masjid Muftis (judges) would henceforth enforce sharia law over the area under its control, and threatened suicide attacks by his followers in the country in the event of a government intervention against the madrassa.Wafaq ul Madaris (Governing Body of Seminaries) suspended Jamia Hafsa's membership after pressure from the Government, according to Islamic scholars. Wafaq ul Madaris was later forced by the government to cancel their registration. The majority ulema of Pakistan viewed cleric Qari Hanif Jalandhri as an agent of the government due to his support of Ijaz-ul-Haq.
Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa students raided a Chinese massage center in Sector F-8/3 and took hostage five Chinese nationals, including three women and two men, Two vehicles full of armed seminary students raided the massage center, abducted staff and brought them to the mosque. The Jamia Hafsa administration alleged that a brothel was being run under the garb of a massage center. The Lal Masjid clerics could not be contacted as they had switched off their mobile phones. Islamabad Capital Territory
Islamabad Capital Territory
The Islamabad Capital Territory is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² of which 906 km² is Islamabad proper...
(ICT) officials reached the seminary and were trying to secure the release of the abducted Chinese through dialogue. Earlier, the students had abducted the alleged brothel owner and released her after a couple of days. They had also abducted and later released two police personnel.
In May 2007, baton-wielding students from a mosque associated with the movement took four Pakistan police as hostages, demanding the release of ten associates who had been arrested by intelligence officers. This kind of controversy finally led to the siege of the Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid started on July 3, 2007.
See Also
- Darul 'Uloom KarachiDarul 'Uloom KarachiDarul 'Uloom Karachi is an Islamic seminary located in Karachi, Pakistan. It continues the tradition of the Darul uloom system initiated by Darul Uloom Deoband. It was started by the late Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Mufti Muhammad Shafi and Mawlana Noor Ahmad, in 1951...
- Jamia BinoriaJamia BinoriaJamia Binoria is an international Sunni Islamic educational institute located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is regarded as one of the most modern madrassas. It should not be confused with the Jamiah Islamiya madrassa in Binori Town, Karachi....
- Darul Uloom New YorkDarul Uloom New YorkDarul Uloom New York is a higher Islamic educational institution founded by Shaikh Shahidul Islam of Bangladesh in 1997, New York, United States. The aim is to prepare a group of qualified, capable and dedicated Muballigheen, Ulama, and Huffaz of Qur'aan who will be committed to become sincere and...
- Jamiah Darul Uloom ZahedanJamiah Darul Uloom ZahedanJamiah Darul Uloom Zahedan is the largest and highest seat of Islamic knowledge and learning for the Sunnis in Iran. The great scholar Maulana Abdul Azeez, son of the great Mojahid Shaikh Abdullah, founded the Jamiah with a view to create consciousness about the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah among the...
- Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia
External links
- Jamia Hafsa ٰForum
- Lal Masjid
- Jamia Hafsa
- My Government's Partial Truth - www.Paki.in/WTF
- The Guardian - Musharraf confronts militants in standoff over religious school
- BBC News - Students raid Islamabad 'brothel
- Rediff - Islamabad's Lal Mosque grooming jihadis: Research scholar
- Newsline - The Battered Half