Hi steemians
In continuation of my series on young people who changed the world, today I will tell the story of Iqbal Mason, the young Pakistan boy who stopped child labour.
My previous post was about Samantha Smith the 12year old that changed the World.
Here's the link to her story :
Iqbal Mason was born into a family that's experiencing financial difficulties in Maridke Pakistan. His father left him when he was young.
When he was 4 years old, his mother needed money to pay for his brothers wedding, so she decided to take a loan from a local business man in his name. Two years after, they couldn't pay back the money so Iqbal was forced into labour to pay off their debts.
Iqbal worked 14 hours everyday, 6 days a week yet he couldn't earn enough to pay off their debts. He was like many other children forced into labour. Though child labour is unlawful in Pakistan, but corrupt government officials couldn't help because they are lip sealed by bribery from the local business men.
At 10, Iqbal's mind was made up, he was fed up of the hardship they were made to pass through, he gathered some of his friends that reasoned with him and he escaped with them. He ran to the police to report their abuse but the corrupt police only returned them pack to their misery to get more money.
Aged 12, he attended a Freedom Day Celebration. There he got to know his right. Iqbal volunteered to speak at the celebration about what he was experiencing with his friends at the labourers house, there people were touched and they investigated the situation and came to his rescue. They freed him and his friends.
Shortly after that, Iqbal decided to take the responsibility of giving freedom to other children like him so he became the leader of the anti-slave movement aged 12. He also attended school to get his education, he developed his knowledge on law and human right. He spoke on behalf of slaves against slavery.
Iqbal received death threats from business men and mafia because he was disrupting their businesses and making their slaves grow in confidence to stand for their right yet he never stopped. He was invited to several conferences to further speak against slavery, he spoke with confidence. In a short time more than 3000 children slavss gained their freedom, they followed him around to support his movement.
He attended school in hopes of becoming a lawyer, the 16th of April, 1995, Iqbal was assassinated after being shot. It was reported that he was mistakenly shot by a farmer but people believed that Iqbal was assassinated by mafians.
What surprises me is the kind a confidence a 12 year old to seek freedom for himself and from others.
"Every slave dream of one thing, and that is freedom but they all know that is one dream that will never come to pass."
- Creon
This above quote doesn't apply to Iqbal, he stood first himself and accomplished so much.
Age is never a limitation, our greatest enemy is ourselves.
We stand to make the world a better place @ejemai
Thanks to @gbenga @oluwatobiloba for his inspiring writeups, they spur me
Nice read, he may have brought awareness to it, I doubt he can singlehandedly stop child labour. Only people collectively could do that. Interesting read
It's still known that child labour still exist in Pakistan till now. Young Iqbal did play his part
Yeah, i acknowledged that fact above. He did bring awareness, it's not left for the people to act to end it
That's one heart warming story . And I totally agree with you when you say child labour still prevails and there like people like Iqbal who stand up against it and for their rights . They might kill a voice in a human form but there are gonna be more people like him taking his place raising their voice against child labour . Was a good read .thank you . Steem on !
I respect Iqbal, I love his courage