JUNE 2010 . VOL 3 . ISSUE 6 Indoctrinating Children: pimples on his face and short,” attacked system because their children are a press club in Peshawar, killing three provided free education and room and The Making of Pakistan’s people.6 Another teenager “wearing board. In comparison, many government Suicide Bombers a vest with as many as 15 pounds of schools have limited teaching materials explosives” blew himself up near a and “an inadequate number of properly By Kalsoom Lakhani protest rally in Peshawar in April 2010, trained teachers, or in many cases killing a prominent police officer and absent teachers.”12 As a result, some in numerous armed conflicts, children as many as two dozen protesters.7 The families choose to send their children continue to be used as weapons of war. attack was later claimed by Lashkar- away to religious schools. According to Human Rights Watch, i-Jhanghvi, a group from the Punjabi the military recruitment of children Taliban nexus. According to Chinoy, the first stage in under 18 years of age and their use the indoctrination process involves the in hostilities occurs in at least 86 To comprehend the gravity of the child severing of young children from their countries and territories, with Amnesty militant phenomenon in Pakistan, families.13 Since they receive free board International estimating that there it is first necessary to understand and education, a sense of loyalty and are approximately 250,000 children the process of indoctrination, which obligation between the students and the fighting in conflicts worldwide.1 In ultimately socializes young recruits into madrasa develops. From a psychological Pakistan, a significant and disturbing hardened fighters. By understanding perspective, the separation of a child number of suicide bombers were this psychology, it is possible to find from parental control subsequently between 12 and 18 years of age, with one productive solutions. leads them to look toward a father estimate placing that number at 90%.2 surrogate as their new authority, noted Although young militants are generally The Role of Madrasas in Radicalization Jerrold Post, a Professor of Psychiatry, teenagers when asked to carry out Sources differ on the actual number of Political Psychology and International suicide attacks, the indoctrination of madrasas (religious schools) in Pakistan. Affairs at The George Washington children often starts at a much younger According to the Council on Foreign University.14 In the case of the madrasa age. In the PBS documentary Children of Relations, “Experts say there is no system, this surrogate often takes the the Taliban, journalist Sharmeen Obaid credible information for the number of form of the school cleric or teacher, Chinoy interviewed Taliban commander unregistered madrassas, but estimates whose sermons many young boys accept Qari Hussain, who boasted that he of registered madrassas range from ten without question. also recruits children as young as five, thousand to twenty thousand.”8 When six and seven years old, emphasizing, looking at the numbers of children who Children at a young age are “Children are tools to achieve God’s attend school in the country, however, deeply vulnerable, malleable and will. And whatever comes your way, only a small percentage (1.3%) receives impressionable, traits often manipulated you sacrifice it.”3 a madrasa education, versus 65% who by group leaders in conflicts throughout attend public schools and 34% who the world to indoctrinate child soldiers. In the last year alone, child suicide go to private schools.9 Nevertheless, According to Post, “The psychology of bombers have perpetrated a number according to South Asia expert Christine morality and conscience is something of attacks in Pakistan. In June 2009, Fair, madrasas are still concerning as they that is absorbed during childhood, and news agencies reported that a teenage may produce students who are more if that childhood is spent carrying out or suicide bomber detonated explosives likely than students in mainstream viewing acts of violence, it can be a very in the office of a prominent cleric and schools to support militancy.10 powerful and scary phenomenon.”15 supporter of the Pakistani offensive against the Taliban.4 The cleric, Sarfraz While not all religious schools in In the case of Pakistan, the dependency Naeemi, was killed in the attack, as well Pakistan are radical in nature, some between the student and the school is as three others.5 In December 2009, a estimates claim that about 15% preach further strengthened by the madrasa teenage suicide bomber, who a police violence or militancy.11 In areas with curriculum. According to Azhar chief described as “under 20 with a high concentration of madrasas, low- Hussain, a consultant with various income families may choose this school international organizations on madrasa 1 “Child Soldiers Global Report 2008,” Human Rights enhancement in Pakistan, the curriculum Watch, May 20, 2008. The 250,000 figure is drawn 6 “Teen Suicide Bomber Kills 3 at Pakistan Press Club,” in these schools is focused on religion, from the “Child Soldiers” section of Amnesty Interna- Kuwait Times, December 23, 2009. and rarely incorporates subjects such tional’s website. 7 Sabrina Tavernise, “Bomber Strikes Near Pakistan as math or sciences, disciplines that 2 Zahid Hussain, an expert on the Taliban who has inter- Rally,” New York Times, April 19, 2010. ultimately foster critical thinking and 16 viewed many children trained to become suicide bomb- 8 Jayshree Bajoria, “Pakistan’s Education System and analysis. In many of these madrasas, ers, provided this figure to CNN journalist Anderson Links to Extremism,” Council on Foreign Relations, Oc- students are also not allowed to watch Cooper, which was broadcast on “Anderson Cooper 360 tober 7, 2009. Degrees,” on January 5, 2010. 9 Tahir Andrabi, Jishnu Das, C. Christine Fair, and Asim 12 Bajoria. 3 Dan Edge, Children of the Taliban, PBS Frontline, Au- Ijaz Khwaja, “The Madrasa Myth,” Foreign Policy, June 1, 13 Personal interview, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, May 10, gust 14, 2009. 2009. 2010. 4 Alex Rodriguez, “Taliban Critic Slain in Pakistan Sui- 10 Bajoria. 14 Personal interview, Jerrold Post, April 30, 2010. cide Bombing,” Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2009. 11 Douglas Johnston, “Madrassa Reform Key,” Washing- 15 Ibid. 5 Ibid. ton Times, August 7, 2009. 16 Personal interview, Azhar Hussain, May 8, 2010. 11 JUNE 2010 . VOL 3 . ISSUE 6 television or read any materials not The Culture of Martyrdom of the Taliban, noted that older students prescribed by their school and are Not all madrasas are radical, and many in the schools (teenagers 15-18-years- “severely reprimanded and made an that preach hatred and intolerance old) also influence the younger children example if they do,” explained Chinoy. do not necessarily advocate violence. (9-12-years-old), framing jihadist The use of intimidation is therefore an At the same time, there is a culture fighters and suicide bombers as heroes important tool in indoctrination. As of martyrdom to which children who bring value to society and should a result, most madrasa students do not become acclimated while attending be emulated.25 According to Hussain, question or probe teachings centered on these schools. According to Post, the students as young as nine years old say narrow and arbitrary interpretations of evolution of suicide bombing in the if there were an opportunity to harm Islam. Islamist context has involved “taking Western interests, they would not hesitate in sacrificing themselves for The Common Narrative “While adult suicide “the greater good.”26 Despite the numerous types of madrasas, as well as militant organizations, one bombers may experience Surrender to the collective or group simple and overarching narrative seems some ‘existential identity is also a transformation to tie these entities together. While that occurs in the indoctrination there are variations on the enemy, more grappling,’ young children process. While adult suicide bombers radical schools base their fundamental are unable to process the may experience some “existential narrative around the notion that Islam grappling,” young children are unable is under attack. In his work on madrasas, meaning of ending one’s to process the meaning of ending one’s Azhar Hussain found that numerous life, especially if rewards life, especially if rewards are promised schools infuse teachings of religion with in the afterlife.27 Images and stories of anti-U.S. sentiment, delivering firebrand are promised in the virgins, rivers of milk and honey, and sermons that depict the United States afterlife.” other heavenly delights in paradise, as as the villain in the narrative, the force well as propaganda videos celebrating that threatens Islamic traditions and the acts of jihadist fighters, further values.17 While perceived allies of the enforce the allure of suicide bombing.28 United States, including the Pakistani something that is prohibited in the Holy Children are also told that by becoming state and NATO forces, are also vilified Qur’an—suicide—and reframing it as suicide bombers they are securing a in this scenario, the Pakistani military martyrdom.”22 Although the “greater” place in heaven for their families as in particular is a rallying cry. According jihad in Islam is the struggle within well.29 to Chinoy, clerics and militants frame oneself, firebrand clerics and militants the Pakistan Army’s operations against have shifted the emphasis to the “lesser” Children as