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Bulldozer justice

57 0
02.08.2026

The best way to promote liberal values is to educate children. Historically, prosperous, well-functioning and successful societies have always emphasised the importance of education. Societies that have invested in higher education have generally experienced a rise in the middle class, experienced fewer human rights abuses, promoted democracy, and have been less discriminatory. From Plato's vision of the philosopher-king, through the rise of medieval universities under the influence of Christianity in the 11th century, to the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries and into the present day, entrenched orthodoxies have repeatedly obstructed humanity's pursuit of knowledge and truth.

Muhammad Ali Johar University in India stands on the brink of demolition. Authorities allege that 38 of its 40 buildings were constructed in violation of land acquisition regulations. The university is located in the Rampur district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Fifty per cent of the population of this district is Muslim, and there are almost 3,000 students, most of whom are Muslims, receiving higher education in this university and now face the unfortunate prospect of an abrupt end to their educational pursuits. The university's Chancellor, Azam Khan, established the Muhammad Ali Johar Trust in 2003 and is a founding member of the Samajwadi Party. Since the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, more than one hundred criminal cases have reportedly been registered against him. Khan spent approximately two years in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2022. Since the early 1980s, he has repeatedly represented his constituency in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative........

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