Taliban threats close Pakistan schools

The Associated Press reports on violence related to the education of girls in northern Pakistan. The resurgent Taliban has destroyed over 170 schools and threatened more:

Muslim Khan, the militants' spokesman, said they would not allow any girls' schools to operate until the army withdraws from the valley and Islamic law is imposed.

"These schools are being run under a system introduced by the British and promote obscenity and vulgarity in society," Khan told AP by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Khan said a system of girls education would be developed in line with the teaching of Islam.

This puts our concerns about education somewhat in perspective...