THE arrest of a cleric in Mandi Bahauddin on Monday may not bring much joy to the parents of Mazhar Iqbal, the young boy he is charged with torturing, sexually abusing and killing, but it will prove reassuring for other students.

This is not the first time a maulana of a madressah has been charged with sexual abuse but in order to reduce such cases, the law will have to ensure that he is awarded the strictest of punishments.

Had it not been for two other students who escaped the madressah and alerted their parents that Iqbal had died at the hands of the maulana, and not because of cholera as was being falsely claimed, the matter would have ended differently.

When the parents had an autopsy conducted on their son, they found torture marks, a fractured backbone, failed lungs and kidney and a hole in his chest, the result of severe beating with a wooden rod. That this crime was committed by madressah teacher makes it more despicable. His criminal act must not go unpunished. It is important to make conditions safe and secure for students.

Parents must believe their children are safe at schools and madressahs and students must also be able to differentiate between a teacher’s acceptable and inappropriate behaviour. This incident also strengthens the argument for a stricter check on madressahs known for their brutal methods of punishment as well as condoning violence.

Their method of teaching as well as what is being taught must be properly regulated.It is important that the maulana is made to pay for his crime and never allowed to teach again. School administrations must also take the strictest of actions against any teacher charged with abusing his/her powers.

There are laws against corporal punishment which must be strictly enforced if there is to be a more congenial environment in madressahs.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/19/2007