This most recent attack by the extremist Islamic group on the girls in Nigeria who were pursuing their education is yet another reminder of the power of education and in particular the power of educated women!
When Malala Yousafzai one of a number of Pakistani students who were attacked by the Taliban in 2012 for attempting to attend classes, spoke at the United Nations last year where she urged hundreds of young adults and youth leaders to use knowledge as power against extremists, she had this to say:
“The extremists were, and they are, afraid of books and pens,” she said. “The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women … Let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons.”
The leader of the extremist Nigerian group Boko Haram is credited with saying about the abduction: “Western education is sin, it is forbidden, women must go and marry.”
I must point out that the views of these fringe groups are the antithesis of mainstream Islamic followers who openly and strongly encourage education for both boys and girls.
However, according to a report issued earlier this year by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), a group formed in 2006 to strengthen women’s participation and influence in conflict prevention, social justice and peace building, religious extremism is spreading into the mainstream throughout the Middle East and North Africa and in countries with significant Muslim populations. The main reason according to the report is that these groups offer a sense of values, economic support and community that is attractive to the unemployed and underemployed, disenfranchised youth population.
Women are always directly targeted by these extremists groups, such as the attack in Nigeria a few weeks ago. Extremists use growing anti-Western feelings, speaking of women’s rights as a “western” invention to taint Muslim society.
I am gratified that the world seems to be paying attention and putting pressure on the Boko Haram to release these young girls. It is bringing attention to a dangerous ideological divide that according to ICAN is growing. Global injustices towards women thwart socio economic progress for all nations. The more educated we all are, the more progress we all make. The more freedom we all have, the more innovative, productive, safe and happy we can all be.
As Martin Luther King Jr, said, a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
#BringBackOurGirls
