Iqbal Masih - Moral Heroes | Moral Heroes. In the mid 1990’s, a bright young youth made a global impact on Child Slavery. Iqbal Masih’s life was cut short just shy of 13 years but his powerful and eloquent speeches encouraged thousands of bonded laborers and child slaves to follow his example.
He brought awareness and promoted education so that others could stand up for their rights and end the injustice in sweat shops around the world. In 1983, Iqbal Masih was born in the poor community of Maridke outside of Lahore, Pakistan. His family was financially burdened, and his father Saif Masih decided to leave when Iqbal was young. When he was 4 years old, Iqbal’s mother Inayat needed funds to pay for his older brother’s wedding. Iqbal became one of the many child bonded laborers at the carpet factory. “Children should have pens in their hands not tools” – Iqbal Masih When Iqbal was 10 years old he made up his mind to escape. At the age of 12, Iqbal found away to attend a freedom day celebration held by the Brick Layer Unions. FREEDOM HERO: IQBAL MASIH.