Masih's story

  Iqbal Masih’s story

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 12 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, inspired, 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.

Freedom	Six	Beaten	Political	13000
Powerful	Campaign	Loan	Bondage	Rights
Meeting	Investigation	Cycling	Twelve	Drafted
Bonded	Inspired	Million	Threats	Refused

                                                                                                                                                                  

Vocabulary task:

Research the meanings of the following vocabulary. Use the word in a sentence that you have written in your own words.  You can add any words that you are unfamiliar with.

Answer this below or directly onto your blog.

1. Impassioned- When you have a passion for something.	2. Malnourished- Starved get poorly any food.	3. Inspired- You feel encouraged by what someone has said or done.	4. Campaign- When you're fighting for something.	5. bonded labour- when people give themselves into slavery as security against a loan.
6. Lobbied- when people get influenced to vote for something or someone.	7. Dedication- Where you are committed to finish something.	8. Suspicious- Where someone does something that is questionable, dishonest, or dangerous.	9. Collusion- Secret or illegal cooperation	10. Initial- existing or occurring at the beginning