The Commemoration of Iqbal Masih
By Hera Saeed
Who Was He? and What Happened?
His older brother was soon to be married but his mother did not have enough money. The only way his mother could get enough money for the wedding was to make a trade; to get loans in trade for child labor. His mother got a loan of 600 rupees ($12).
So, at the age of 4 Iqbal was sent to a carpet making factory. His first year of working did not earn him wadges as he was learning the skills needed to be carpet weaver. He worked 6 days a week, 14 hours a day. The factory was lit by 2 dim light bulbs and the owners of the factory were not pleasant people. They would punish the kids by beating them or chaining them up or even hanging them upside down if they spoke out of turn, became sick, or if they tried running away. He faced this everyday until he was the age of 10.
One day, he heard that BLLF (Bonded Labor Liberation Front) was holding a meeting, this organization guided children who were like Iqbal to freedom. There he heard that this type of child labor was condemned illegal in 1992. At that moment he knew that he wanted to be free. He helped hundreds of children, just like himself, who worked in the factory to escape.
Iqbal Masih at a young age.
Young kids working in a carpet making factory,
Iqbal Masih receiving an award
Importance
This was important because not only did it help children facing child labor but it also opened the eyes of many around the world, it caused a greater impact than just getting kids out of illegal child labor. It put issues like this under the spotlight and gain supporters who were willing to change the world one step at a time. Each human being deserves to be treated fairly and these kids were not fortunate enough to receive that. A good life should not have to be a privilege, everyone deserves it equally.