We know that memorial libraries are named after donors who make significant contributions to them, historical figures or individuals and entities that exemplify the attributes of leadership and integrity. But could you also find libraries named after terrorists? If the last one sounds unrealistic to you, consider this.
A distinguished Islamic seminary for girls, Jamia Hafsa, in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, has recently renamed its library after Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader, who was killed in a US raid in 2011."He is our hero," explained Maulana Abdul Aziz, the radical cleric of the Red Mosque who runs the school.
This incident might be disconcerting for Pakistan that has been struggling for years to contain terrorism and radicalism, but it’s hardly the sole example of its kind. Lahore is home to a cricket stadium named after the former Libyan dictator, Muammar Qaddafi. Although it was renamed in 1974, it’s hard to understand why repeated campaigns failed to get it reinstated to its former identity as Lahore Stadium, or redesignated after one of the many great cricketers Pakistan has produced. One reason could be that it’s hard to be rid of a “hero” from the death of a mere individual.
