Ronald de Hommel
2007-08-12_MG_0757
12-08-2007, Lahore, Pakistan. The main mosque of Lahore in Pakistan can accommodate tens of thousands of believers. The Imam set up a small madrasa for orphaned children. They get free education and boarding at the Mosque. Around one third of the Pakistani youth is educated in Madrasas. For poor families it's a possibility to a free education. But also richer families often send their children for a year to a Koran school to learn about Islam. Madrasas are accused of recruiting and training members for Al Qaida or the Taliban. Most madrasas are just educational institutes that distance themselves from extremism. For girls a madrasa can even mean a way to emancipation, because an education can help them to find a job and financial independence.
2007-08-12_MG_0757
12-08-2007, Lahore, Pakistan. The main mosque of Lahore in Pakistan can accommodate tens of thousands of believers. The Imam set up a small madrasa for orphaned children. They get free education and boarding at the Mosque. Around one third of the Pakistani youth is educated in Madrasas. For poor families it's a possibility to a free education. But also richer families often send their children for a year to a Koran school to learn about Islam. Madrasas are accused of recruiting and training members for Al Qaida or the Taliban. Most madrasas are just educational institutes that distance themselves from extremism. For girls a madrasa can even mean a way to emancipation, because an education can help them to find a job and financial independence.