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Turkish Schools In Pakistan Offer Moderate Islamic Alternative

By Howard Friedman

Today's New York Times carries a front page article titled Turkish Schools Offer Pakistan a Gentler Vision of Islam. It reports on a group of Turkish educators-- offering an alternative to both public schools and madrasas-- who have:

an entirely different vision of Islam. Theirs is moderate and flexible, comfortably coexisting with the West while remaining distinct from it. Like Muslim Peace Corps volunteers, they promote this approach in schools, which are now established in more than 80 countries, Muslim and Christian....

They prescribe a strong Western curriculum, with courses, taught in English.... They do not teach religion beyond the one class in Islamic studies that is required by the state.... [H]owever, they encourage Islam in their dormitories, where teachers set examples in lifestyle and prayer....

The model is the brainchild of a Turkish Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gulen... Moderate as that sounds, some Turks say Mr. Gulen uses the schools to advance his own political agenda.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 04, 2008 (boomark / email).