When Iqbal Masih was 4 years old,
his parents sold him into slavery for less than $16. For the next six years, he remained
shackled to a carpet weaving loom most of the time, tying tiny knots hour after hour.
By age 12, he was free and travelling the world in his crusade against the horrors
of child labor.
Iqbal wasn't free long when he was shot dead, as he and two friends were riding their
bikes in their village of Muritke, 35 kilometres outside the eastern city of Lahore.
It is widely believed that his murder was carried out by angry members of the carpet
industry in Pakistan, who had made repeated threats to silence the young activist.
The life and death of Iqbal Masih has inspired youths and adults alike to continue
his struggle to end child labor. Additional links for child labor
resources on the Web can be found at the Free the Children site.
A summary of child labor issues as well as the United National Convention on the
Rights of the Child can be found on the Global March Against Child
Labor site.
The
Kids Online
March Against Child Labor
John Terry, Donna
Woonteiler
Fall 1998, v.14-3
Help
Us Help the Children
Craig Keilburger
Fall 1998, v.14-3
Third
World Child Workers Find Advocate In U.S. Senate
Children's Express/New
York Bureau
Fall 1996, v.12-3
A Kids' Campaign for
Freedom
Children's Express
Winter 1997, v.13-1 |
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