The subhead to this article is: “Experts doubt the teaching will stop radicalisation.” No kidding, really? In the West, our leaders are staking our future on the success of such programs, even though they have never worked anywhere. A student says: “There are young people in the world who have joined extremist organisations. The main reason for this is that they don’t know much about religion. This book has improved our knowledge of Islam.” Yet the Islamic State and other jihad groups base their appeal on Islam’s texts and teachings. If this program ignores how jihadist use those teachings, which is likely, then it is doomed to failure.
“Tajikistan seeks to tackle Islamic extremism with new classes for teenagers,” Ukraine Today, March 5, 2016:
This classroom in Dushanbe is the latest battleground in Tajikistan’s fight against Islamic extremism.
New subject, religious education, has been introduced for 15 to 16-year-olds. The Tajik authorities believe it’s the crucial age to guide children’s views of religion and prevent them being radicalized later on.
Safarali Tabarov, teacher: “There are extremist groups which go to Syria and other countries. Under the slogan “jihad,” they pit Muslim against Muslim. And they wage a political struggle which harms the people.”
The textbooks cover various ancient and current religions, but are mostly concerned with interpreting Islam. According to official figures, more than a thousand Tajiks have traveled to Syria to join Islamic State militants. The hope is that these children will be less vulnerable to their propaganda.
Student: “There are young people in the world who have joined extremist organisations. The main reason for this is that they don’t know much about religion. This book has improved our knowledge of Islam.”
There are calls for similar classes at colleges, universities, and other institutes of higher education. Experts say this program will have no real impact on the numbers currently joining extremist groups.
But there is the hope increasing religious knowledge in the classroom will keep the next generation off the battlefield.
Good luck with that.

CogitoErgoSum says
No, these students will eventually discover the BEST way to improve their knowledge of Islam is to read the Quran and study the life and sayings of Muhammad. The way to become the BEST they can be is to try as much as possible to be like Muhammad. But that can only end badly because it’s like trying to improve your hearing by putting your ears next to the biggest speakers you can find and turning up the volume as loud as it will go ……… and trying to improve your eyesight by staring into the sun for as long as you can. Ultimately, you will be left deaf and blind ……… and dumb as a follower of Islam.
Angemon says
Saudi Arabia knows hot to counter “violent islamic extremism”: give them money to wage it outside Saudi Arabia.
Jay Boo says
Islam needs two separate so-called (immutable) Qur’ans.
1 The early peaceful verses that were later “abrogated”
2 The contradicting Buckets of Blood later verses.
Yes, out of convenience, the ever capricious Allah (MO’s puppet) decided that he had made a mistake (Oops) and changed his unchangeable book.
Like any experience liar, he covered up his obvious flip-flop contradiction by mixing up his early statements with the later to obscure his tracks.
Mirren10 says
Just tell them about mohammed’s love of melons, and his cool sandals ! That should sort things, no bother.
linnte says
The guy in the photo is holding that Qur’an with his left hand!
Jay Boo says
Toilet paper dispenser
LEFT hand — on the Qur’an means he is on his way to use the ‘can’.