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Students raid Islamabad 'brothel' | Students raid Islamabad 'brothel' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Dozens of young women from a religious school in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, have broken into an alleged brothel and kidnapped the owner. | Dozens of young women from a religious school in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, have broken into an alleged brothel and kidnapped the owner. |
The women, from the nearby Jamia Hafsa madrassa, burst in late on Tuesday, demanding the premises be shut down. | The women, from the nearby Jamia Hafsa madrassa, burst in late on Tuesday, demanding the premises be shut down. |
The women say they have a right to end immoral activity under Islamic law. | The women say they have a right to end immoral activity under Islamic law. |
The BBC's Navdip Dhariwal in Islamabad says it is the first time such bold Taleban-style activity seen elsewhere in Pakistan has occurred in the city. | The BBC's Navdip Dhariwal in Islamabad says it is the first time such bold Taleban-style activity seen elsewhere in Pakistan has occurred in the city. |
The Jamia Hafsa school has been at the centre of controversy in recent months. | The Jamia Hafsa school has been at the centre of controversy in recent months. |
In January, armed students prevented the authorities from demolishing an illegally constructed mosque and occupied a nearby children's library. | In January, armed students prevented the authorities from demolishing an illegally constructed mosque and occupied a nearby children's library. |
They have also demanded that local video owners close their stores. | They have also demanded that local video owners close their stores. |
'Not mistreated' | 'Not mistreated' |
The women who led Tuesday night's raid near the city centre included teachers and students. They were later joined by male colleagues from the men's section of the madrassa. | The women who led Tuesday night's raid near the city centre included teachers and students. They were later joined by male colleagues from the men's section of the madrassa. |
They [police] have arrested our respected, veiled teachers for a corrupt woman Abdul Rashid Ghazi, Jamia Hafsa vice-principal Pakistan's Islamic girls schools | |
When the alleged brothel's owner refused to shut the building, the raiding party forcibly shut it themselves and took the woman, her daughter and daughter-in-law back to the madrassa where they are still being held. | When the alleged brothel's owner refused to shut the building, the raiding party forcibly shut it themselves and took the woman, her daughter and daughter-in-law back to the madrassa where they are still being held. |
Initially the police were reluctant to step in to rescue the woman, but later registered a case and arrested two female teachers of the school. | Initially the police were reluctant to step in to rescue the woman, but later registered a case and arrested two female teachers of the school. |
But students then kidnapped two policemen from a nearby patrol. They too are being held in the madrassa and were allowed to speak to reporters. | But students then kidnapped two policemen from a nearby patrol. They too are being held in the madrassa and were allowed to speak to reporters. |
"They have not mistreated us, they have served us tea and allowed us to keep our mobile phones," one of them, constable Hamad Raza said, the AFP news agency reports. | "They have not mistreated us, they have served us tea and allowed us to keep our mobile phones," one of them, constable Hamad Raza said, the AFP news agency reports. |
"We are told that negotiations are under way and we hope the matter will be over soon," he said. | "We are told that negotiations are under way and we hope the matter will be over soon," he said. |
School officials also say that two other teachers have been missing since early on Wednesday morning and that they believe they were kidnapped by intelligence agencies. | School officials also say that two other teachers have been missing since early on Wednesday morning and that they believe they were kidnapped by intelligence agencies. |
Their whereabouts is unclear. | Their whereabouts is unclear. |
School raided | |
The Jamia Hafsa has long been a problem for the capital city administration and Pakistan's Pesident General Musharraf. | The Jamia Hafsa has long been a problem for the capital city administration and Pakistan's Pesident General Musharraf. |
The Jamia Hafsa was accused of links to the 7/7 London bombings | The Jamia Hafsa was accused of links to the 7/7 London bombings |
It has often criticised his policies in the "war on terror" and called for Islamic law to be enforced in Pakistan. | It has often criticised his policies in the "war on terror" and called for Islamic law to be enforced in Pakistan. |
The madrassa was among schools raided after the London bombings of July 2005 over alleged links with the bombers. | The madrassa was among schools raided after the London bombings of July 2005 over alleged links with the bombers. |
Madrassa officials deny any such links. | Madrassa officials deny any such links. |
Our correspondent says it appears the administration is reluctant or helpless to take action against the school's teachers and students. | Our correspondent says it appears the administration is reluctant or helpless to take action against the school's teachers and students. |
The incident comes amid concerns over the increasing "Talebanisation" of parts of Pakistan. | The incident comes amid concerns over the increasing "Talebanisation" of parts of Pakistan. |
In Pakistan's tribal areas and in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), religious groups have sought to impose strict Islamic law on local people. | In Pakistan's tribal areas and in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), religious groups have sought to impose strict Islamic law on local people. |
Across the tribal areas and in parts of NWFP, video and CD shops have been attacked and closed, barbers are banned from shaving beards and non-religious music and singing is prohibited. | Across the tribal areas and in parts of NWFP, video and CD shops have been attacked and closed, barbers are banned from shaving beards and non-religious music and singing is prohibited. |