Veteran actress Bushra Ansari has expressed profound sorrow and called for sweeping reforms in religious seminaries following the alleged death of a 12-year-old child due to torture by a madrassa teacher in Swat.
Known for her outspoken stance on sensitive social issues, Ansari emphasized the urgent need for state intervention and parental responsibility.
The tragic incident, which saw a child reportedly die due to alleged torture by a religious teacher, has reignited the debate surrounding the safety and standards of religious education in Pakistan.
Bushra Ansari strongly advocated for the registration and strict monitoring of madrassas, stating, "The time has come for the state to play its role in these matters." She observed that "in many madrassas, some inexperienced teachers attempt to impart education by frightening children, which is completely against the teachings of Islam."
Bushra Ansari further stated that such teachers often lack proper education and misinterpret religious texts. "These individuals memorize verses by rote and become clerics, after which they are given jobs and housing in madrassas," she explained. "They receive free provisions on Eid and other important days, which leads to a lack of genuine love for Islam among them."
Questioning the nature of such "coercive" religious education, Ansari remarked, "What kind of religious education is this where there is so much oppression? There is absolutely no compulsion in Islam. I have seen videos where children in madrassas are studying, trembling with fear. For God's sake, don't scare children away from Allah; teach them to love Allah."
According to Ansari, the clerics and scholars who appear on TV and YouTube channels should not only monitor madrassas but also keep a close eye on the teachers working there. She recalled her own father's concerns about physical discipline in madrassas, which led him to teach her the Quran in English instead.
Ansari added that while madrassa teachers, administration, and authorities are responsible, "parents are equally at fault" for not fulfilling their duties. The actress made an emotional appeal to parents to "have mercy on their children," urging them not to risk their children's lives based on the advice of any cleric or teacher, but rather to listen to their children and acknowledge their fears.
