Iqbal Masih

Here is the story of Iqbal Masih. This was a word problem we had to solve for social studies.

I am learning: about child labour.
This shows my learning because: i could work out the parts of the missing story.
I am proud of: how quickly i completed this.

Iqbal’s mother received a loan of 5000 rupees in Iqbal’s name  from his employer,
(about $NZ200) after Iqbal had been working in a carpet factory in Pakistan for two years.
 To repay the Loan Iqbal had to work up to twelve hours a day, six days a week on a carpet loam.
He was malnourished and often Beaten.
After six years of hard labour the debt had increased to 13000 rupees (NZ$518).
In 1992, when he was 10 years old, Iqbal attended a meeting of the Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF).
Where, Inspired by what he heard, he gave an impassioned speech about his life.
 During the Meeting he learnt about his Rights and, with the help of a BLLF lawyer,
Drafted a letter of Freedom, which he gave to the owner.
He never returned to the carpet factory
. Instead,
freedom inspired Iqbal to Campaign for the human rights of other children caught in the trap of Bonded labour.
For the next two years, he spoke out, campaigned and lobbied for an end to Bondage,
estimated to affect more than half a Million children in Pakistan alone.

As Iqbal’s campaigning and profile increased, he started to receive more Threats to his life.
Such was his dedication and commitment, Iqbal refused to stop his campaigning.
 In April 1995 while Cycling near his home town, he was shot dead.

The suspicious circumstances surrounding his death fits a pattern of collusion between Powerful business families,
Political groups and local police authorities, which has resulted in other threats and killings.
 Despite an initial Investigation, Iqbal’s murder remains unsolved.