A number of intellectuals, researchers and MPs at an Afghanistan and Extremism Seminar on Saturday said there is a need for basic reforms in madrassas in Afghanistan.
They argued that most of the training methods in academic centers don't conform to a standard path.
“It is better to have 10 well educated religious scholars instead of thousands of half-educated scholars who easily excommunicate people,” said Mohammad Mohaqiq, writer and researcher.
“There is a severe need to change the curriculum at academic centers and schools in the country,” said Sayed Ishraq Husaini, another writer and researcher.
At the same event, former counternarcotic minister Mubariz Rashidi said: “Al-Qaeda and Daesh commit crimes and cruelty under the name of Islam and by their own perception which they have from this religion. They stick to a revenge theory.”
The participants meanwhile termed gender violence as one of the outcomes of extremism.
“Gender violence and discrimination will not end unless extremist groups are drawn out of the flag of Islam, where they commit violence and cruel acts under the name of this region,” said Shahgul Rezaee, an MP.
“When they join the extremist groups, they feel free of conditions. They felt lonely and thus they try to be part of a big group or a big team where they will feel a bigger identity,” said Roh-ul-Amin Amin, a psychologist.
The participants recommended scientific roundtables and discussions among religious scholars, intellectuals and the people in order to fight religious extremism and monitor madrassas in the country.