Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Islamic schools known as
madrasas have been of increasing interest to analysts and to officials involved in
formulating U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Madrasas drew added attention when it became known that several Taliban leaders and
Al Qaeda members had developed radical political views at madrasas in Pakistan, some
of which allegedly were built and partially financed by donors in the Persian Gulf states.
These revelations have led to accusations that madrasas promote Islamic extremism and
militancy, and are a recruiting ground for terrorism. Others maintain that most of these
religious schools have been blamed unfairly for fostering anti-U.S. sentiments and argue
that madrasas play an important role in countries where millions of Muslims live in
poverty and state educational infrastructure is in decay.
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