Swat Valley was once known as the “Switzerland of Pakistan” and one of the nation’s largest tourist destinations. Residents of Swat Valley have long complained of delays in the legal system and corruption of officials. The Sharia Movement gained momentum by offering to fill a societal vacuum and was endorsed by the Taliban. Sharia law establishes rules for the day-to-day livelihood of Muslims. It is often used as justification by extremists for their actions. Starting in 2008 and continuing though the New Year, violence transformed Swat Valley into a war zone. Enforcement of Sharia law was highly restrictive to the residents of Swat. Women above the age of eight were not allowed to attend any educational institutions. Muslim Khan, a Taliban spokesperson, told the Associated Press, “These schools are being run under a system introduced by the British and promote obscenity and vulgarity in society.” Initially, the Taliban claimed that this would be temporary until gender segregation could be instituted. Soon, however, threats were issued to bomb any school and kill any girl attending after January 15, 2009.
Approximately 400 schools were prevented from opening at the end of the winter break. 80,000 girls from 5th grade and up faced incomplete education, and 8,000 teachers were threatened with unemployment. The Pakistani government agreed to officially establish Sharia law in Swat Valley as part of a ceasefire agreement on February 16, 2009. This lasted until April when the Pakistani Government started the “Swat Operation” to combat militants in the region. By June 2009, the region was brought under control of the Pakistani government, yet, the Taliban insurgency remains.
Education is still restricted, particularly for girls. The freedoms that residents of Swat Valley enjoyed before the Taliban have not returned. Many girls are still banned from school. With their books burnt and dozens of schools destroyed, many students lack the materials required for an education. Those that do attend school are targets of violence. It has been reported that many girls do not wear school uniforms and hide their books for fear of becoming targets.
But steps are being taken to help the girls of Swat Valley with their education. A group of international students with Pakistani backgrounds have started a program called Shajar-e-llm, which translated means “Tree of Knowledge.” As an example of the work they do, Shajar-e-llm took 26 girls away from the conflict for a ten-day retreat to Islamabad. The retreat focuses on simple lessons dealing with confidence building and critical thinking. Motivated by the girls’ struggle to get a proper education, Shiza Shahid, a 20-year-old student at Stanford University, founded and organized Shajar-e-llm. Still in its infancy, it is in need of support and development. “We need support. We need unfortunately more organization, more of the bureaucratic nitty-gritty that you don't want to do, but you have to," Shahid has said. Due to their youth, many parents see organizers as inexperienced or untrustworthy. However, Shajar-e-llm plans to return to Swat Valley to continue educational programs.
Swat remains marred by violence, and the influence of the Taliban has spread to other regions of Pakistan. As recently as October 20, 2009, two suicide bombers attacked the International Islamic University in Islamabad, killing 4 and wounding 18 people.
And on November 17, 2009, Taliban militants blew up a girls’ school in Pakistan’s Khyber district, a region bordering Afghanistan. Fortunately, the attack on the government-run school happened overnight when no one was at the property. Still, the explosion has left yet another school, in a line of nearly 200 already (if not more), badly damaged and in no way the safe learning environment that the young girls who attend there desperately need.
There is a long road ahead to restore Swat Valley and Pakistan to its previous status, but hope remains that despite the Taliban’s violent efforts, normalcy will one day return.
Check out the following articles regarding the situation in Swat Valley Pakistan:
Class Dismissed
- a short documentary on the education system in Sway Valley from Next Step Forward, an organization promoting Science Technology and Education in Pakistan
Swat Valley: Taliban blow up five schools, threaten school girls
- an article from Asianews.it discussing the targeting of girls’ schools in Swat Valley
Girls victimized by Taliban find safe haven to learn
- CNN’s report on the Shajar-e-llm program in Swat Valley
Girls in Pakistan Escape Taliban for a Short While
- an article from Digital Journal highlighting the Shajar-e-llm program
Islamic Law Instituted In Pakistan's Swat Valley
- The Washington Post’s report on the cease fire agreement establishing Sharia law in Swat Valley
Back to school in Pakistan's Swat valley
- a BBC article discussing the return of displaced people to Swat Valley and the reopening of schools
In Swat Valley, a Bittersweet Eid
- a report from the Washington Post reflecting on a post-Taliban Swat Valley
Blasts rock International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan; female cafeteria targeted
- a New York Daily News article on the suicide bombing of International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan
Alexander Booth is a 24-year-old graduate of St John’s University currently living in Long Island. His educational background is in legal studies and creative writing. He can be contacted at Zanderbooth@gmail.com.