feature-mission impossible for pakistani progressives? - slide projector

* Liberals want to beat their opponents-
Deep-rooted extremism * groups call for a moderate attitude on university campuses * aimed at combating the spread of extremism from mosques to classrooms, December 7 (Reuters)-
This small and enthusiastic group of "progressive" Muslims came to a hotel conference room in the Pakistani capital with the tools they hoped for, which will help in the unstable United StatesS. ally.
Hudi organization-self-Respect in Urdu
Don't expect the government to address the spread of Islamic radicalism.
So it took on tasks that seemed impossible to accomplish.
Create a social movement that can reverse the growth trend.
A few seconds after using laptops, slide machines, film documentaries and historical examples to highlight the dangers of radicalism, the leader of Khudi met hostile college students in the audience.
A veiled woman said the hand of the thief should not be criticized for being taken off because it would reduce the crime in Saudi Arabia, which is accused of funding Pakistan's hardline Islamic Seminary
Others deny intolerance in Pakistanwhere al Qaeda-
Sunni militants kill members of ethnic minorities
Instead, they think Western conspirators have made up the problem.
"I just don't know how to express my opinion to you," one lecturer said with obvious frustration . ".
The United States and other Western countries have been urging governments to fight extremism.
Critics say Pakistani leaders have failed, allowing clergy from small village mosques to school teachers in big cities to spread radicalism in nuclear power --armed state.
The Houdi struggle highlights the difficulty of stabilizing Pakistan, which is considered critical to the United StatesS.
Efforts to combat militants.
It was founded in 2010 by Maajid Nawaz, a former member of the Islamic organization. ut-
Trying to recruit military officers in Muslim countries to overthrow pro
Western government.
Nawaz, a British from Pakistan, spent years convincing Muslims
From Europe to Egyptthat Western-
Democracy is doomed to failure, and only the Islamic State can succeed.
In Cairo's notorious prison, Nawaz was held for four years for his activities and vowed to become a suicide bomber.
After a political debate with other prisoners, he finally decided to promote moderation in extremely conservative Pakistan, where liberals and intellectuals are considered powerless.
While Khudi has spread its message at many universities in Pakistan, its leaders say it may have an impact in a few years.
It may be a problem to mention the world secularism because it is portrayed as a non-
Concept of religion
So it is easy for a secular person to be labeled as heretic.
"We are trying to create al-Qaida in the Democratic Movement," 34-year-old Nawaz said in a telephone interview . " He refers to the influence of radical organizations.
"Pakistan is a very difficult country.
Anyone who mentions the word democracy will immediately be labeled as a western walking dog.
Hudi believes that holding free and fair elections in Pakistan is not enough because religious activism is killing democratic concepts such as freedom of expression and freedom of association.
As a result, more than 60% of Pakistan's population is under 25 years old, it is reaching out to young people.
Composed of eight executive committee members and about 5,000 volunteers, the group deployed ideas as weapons, insisting that the results of the military crackdown on militants were limited.
Members of Khudi held seminars at the university, distributed brochures and screened films condemning violence.
The group is trying to root out tough Islam dating back decades.
In the 1980 s, for example, President Ziya ul-
Haji has trained Islamic militants to move society towards radicalism.
National coordinator Fatima Mullick recalled how, as a teenager in her 1990 s, she heard 40 Shi'ite doctors shot and killed in Karachi within months of leaving home or working in her hometown, business Center in Pakistan.
"There is no illusion," 27-year-
Hu Di's challenge.
"This is the hardest job in the world.
For senior Khudi coach and spokesman Imran Khan, who has nothing to do with cricketers --turned-
Politicians, Parliament.
The attack on the United States that caught his attention
He said: "The people around me, even the people of my family, are very happy that some of the 'pagines' have been killed by Muslim jihad . "
Style jersey
Khudi Pioneer Works in a safe house in the capital Islamabad for fear of militant attacks.
To achieve its goals, Khudi held a seminar on the university campus.
A big part of the problem is that more and more people think the West is plotting against Muslims.
Recent events such as November.
NATO air strikes along the Afghan border have killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Make the work harder for Woody.
"I have relatives working in the Pakistani intelligence service.
They told me that Americans are behind all the suicide bombings, "said Sobia Baig, a Pakistani woman in the hotel workshop.
Hu is upset about Pakistan's long-running radicalism.
But one recent incident shocked the Chinese leader.
On January, the governor of Punjab province Salman tahill was assassinated by his bodyguard.
Because the governor called for reform of Pakistan
Critics say it is a blasphemy against minority abuse.
Lawyers who once protested for democracy used rose petals to bathe bodyguard Montaz cadri.
Two months after tahill's murder, Christian minority Minister Shahbaz batti was killed by the Taliban for demanding changes to the blasphemy law.
After the assassination of Batti, the United StatesN.
Navi Pillay, head of human rights affairs, said Pakistan was "poisoned by extremism ".
It's never been like this.
Pakistan's father, Mohammad Ali Zhenna, called for religious tolerance in his first address to Parliament on 1947.
Ironically, young Pakistanis seem to be most receptive to his messages, such as those in jeans, tights and sleeveless shirts at the Jammin Java cafe in Lahore --
Ideal place to recruit Khudi.
"Pakistan should be a genuine Pakistan, where there is no room for extremism and intolerance," said Nafeesa Ali, a 22-year-old student . ".
But the Islamic group of Nawaz, the Islamic Partyut-
Tahrir Square is also determined to find followers in cafes.
As we all know, it will leave an orange promotional sticker.
Few people are more aware of Khudi's long-standing struggle than shaquir Ahmed Chowdhury, a communications expert who is in the group's workshop“My children (aged 9 and 12)go to a so-
Known as an elite school in Islamabad.
"They came back and said, 'Our teacher told us conspiracy theory', for example, 9/11 was a conspiracy by George Bush and Jews," Ahmed said . ".
"I tried to educate them.
I still have to be careful, though.
I don't want them to quarrel with the teacher, and I don't want them to be abandoned in the class. ” (
Additional reports by al-Bashir Buhari in Lahore;
Editor Ron Popeski)