The government of Pakistan has allowed a violent, facist government to take control of the Swat valley and the West is almost silent in criticism.

Freedom for individuals is under threat in the UK, let us be in no doubt, but the freedom of many, many more people is reliant on our words. We, as a country, should be criticising in the strongest terms any country which allows education to be denied its people. Whether it is the teaching of creationism as science in the US or the closure of schools for girls in Pakistan, we must make clear that they are unacceptable actions for any ally.

Education is one of the most fundamental requirements for a genuinely free and fair society. If schools fail children then as adults they end up reading newspapers where the commentary has no more than one sentence per paragraph; they end up protesting about things that they have voted for (oil refinery strikers who voted for parties that are pro-EU membership); with education, people are able to grasp and involve themselves in open debate.

I am sure there are some well-meaning members of JABS, but as the good doctor points out, there’s no debating with some members.

Like many things we do in society, our actions affect others. If we deny our daughters an education, if we don’t get vaccinated (or deny our children vaccination) we hurt others in tangible ways. I am sufficiently young that I have never been vaccinated against Small Pox — I am lucky that it was already wiped out when I was born — but there are other diseases that have not yet been destroyed that could be with a vaccination programme and the tin-foil-hatters on sites like JABS and the Daily Mail will put that (and others who were out of reach of vaccines) in danger.

The very least a freer society should be doing is criticising those who hold incorrect, illogical or unfair positions in arguments. By debating we can win but if we allow our short-term political goals to get in the way, we will surely delay any eventual victory for logic.