Iqbal Masih, Pakistani Martyr - Biography. Historical Importance: Iqbal Masih was a young Pakistani boy who was forced into bonded labor at age four.
After being freed at age ten, Iqbal became an activist against bonded child labor. He became a martyr for his cause when he was murdered at age 12. Dates: 1982 -- April 16, 1995 Overview of Iqbal Masih: Iqbal Masih was born in Muridke, a small, rural village outside of Lahore in Pakistan. Shortly after Iqbal's birth, his father, Saif Masih, abandoned the family. Iqbal, too young to understand his family's problems, spent his time playing in the fields near his two-room house. In 1986, Iqbal's older brother was to be married and the family needed money to pay for a celebration.
To pay for the wedding, Iqbal's family borrowed 600 rupees (about $12) from a man who owned a carpet-weaving business. This system of peshgi (loans) is inherently inequitable; the employer has all the power. In addition to these costs, the loan grew ever larger because the employer added interest. Iqbal Masih - Page 2. Iqbal began speaking at BLLF meetings and then to international activists and journalists.
He spoke about his own experiences as a bonded-child laborer. He was not intimidated by crowds and spoke with such conviction that many took notice of him. Iqbal's six years as a bonded child had affected him physically as well as mentally. The most noticeable thing about Iqbal was that he was an extremely small child, about half the size he should have been at his age. At age ten, he was less than four feet tall and weighed a mere 60 pounds. In many ways, Iqbal was made into an adult when he was sent to work as a carpet weaver. Iqbal's growing popularity and influence caused him to receive numerous death threats. On Sunday, April 16, 1995, Iqbal spent the day visiting his family for Easter. How and why Iqbal was killed remains a mystery. Iqbal Masih. Person. Iqbal_strip_eng. Moral Heroes. In the mid 1990’s, a bright young youth made a global impact on Child Slavery.
Iqbal Masih’s life was cut short just shy of 13 years but his powerful and eloquent speeches encouraged thousands of bonded laborers and child slaves to follow his example. He brought awareness and promoted education so that others could stand up for their rights and end the injustice in sweat shops around the world. In 1983, Iqbal Masih was born in the poor community of Maridke outside of Lahore, Pakistan. His family was financially burdened, and his father Saif Masih decided to leave when Iqbal was young. When he was 4 years old, Iqbal’s mother Inayat needed funds to pay for his older brother’s wedding. Iqbal became one of the many child bonded laborers at the carpet factory. “Children should have pens in their hands not tools” – Iqbal Masih When Iqbal was 10 years old he made up his mind to escape. At the age of 12, Iqbal found away to attend a freedom day celebration held by the Brick Layer Unions.
A Bullet Can't Kill a Dream - Who Was Iqbal? Who Was Iqbal Masih?
(click on pictures to see full size jpg) Iqbal Masih was four years old when his father sold him into slavery. He was forced to work more than twelve hours a day. He was constantly beaten, verbally abused, and chained to his loom by the carpet factory owner. On December 2, 1994, when Iqbal visited the Broad Meadows Middle School, he looked much younger than his twelve years: his growth had been stunted by severe malnutrition and years of cramped immobility in front of a loom.