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Violent students attack âun-Islamicâ varsity show
Arguing that display of âobsceneâ material and listening to music were against the teachings of Islam, a group of enraged students on Tuesday ransacked the Department of Visual Studies of the University of Karachi, destroying musical instruments, sculptures and paintings.
| Boy, are those noses blue! |
They said the practices were particularly offensive in the holy month of Ramadan. The department was holding its âDegree Show 2003,â its first-ever such event, displaying projects prepared by final year students. The projects include several graphical illustrations combined with music, a documentary on eunuchs and some paintings, posters and sculptures. The show was attacked after some students declared the exhibition a âdisplay of obscene and objectionable materialâ in Ramadan. Personal computers were among the other things destroyed. According to some students, playing music and bringing musical instruments inside the university was strictly prohibited in accordance with the university notification. They said if the university administration was not willing to ban such activities, it was the right of the students to stop by force any activity which was against the teachings of Islam.
| "Using force is the important part, of course. The turban helps, though..." |
The chairperson, of the Department of Visual Studies, Dr Duriya Qazi, denied there was a display of obscene or objectionable material on the occasion. âWe hold such exhibitions and shows to attract employees and people associated with the fine arts to increase job prospects for our students.â
| "Jobs? We don't need no jobs! We got turbans!" |
Admitting that music was being played at the department, Dr Qazi said nobody approached her or any of the departmentâs other faculty members to express disapproval or reservations regarding the show. Later, a team of university officials, including the advisor on studentsâ affairs and campus security officer visited the Department of Visual Studies, asked details of the incident and assured teachers and students about the provision of security.
| That did a lot of good, didn't it? |
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-11-05 |
