WHO WAS IQBAL MASIH?

Iqbal was 4 years old when his father sold him into bonded labor and borrowed 600 rupees. In return he was forced to work in a carpet factory until his debt was paid. He would work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, with only a 30-minute break, paid 3 cents a day for the loan, but no matter what Iqbal did the loan just got bigger and bigger. Iqbal stood less than 4 feet tall and weighed only 20 kg. and malnutrition he became weak and looked stunted.

He was beaten and verbally abused by his employer. To prevent escape he and most of the other children were tightly bound with chains.

At 10 years of age, he learnt that bonded labor is illegal according to Supreme Court of Pakistan. After escaping two times he attended a meeting by Bonded Labor liberation Front (BLLF) where he gave an eloquent speech about his suffering which was printed in the local newspaper. Iqbal helped over 3,000 Pakistani children that were in bonded labor to escape to freedom and made speeches about child labor throughout the world.

He wanted to become a lawyer so that he could help other bonded labors to free from . He completed 4 years of education in just 2 years.

He was assassinated at the age of 12. Born in 1983, killed in 1995.