Madrassas and religious schools have existed for hundreds of years, even before formal education was introduced. Today, they mostly teach Islamic subjects and how to memorize the Quran. This is the biggest reason that people enroll their children into madrassas, so they have more of an understanding of Islam and can be closer to the creator.



To Muslim parents, the safest place their children can be is within the four walls of the mosque. They’re supposed to be free of all forms of evil and a ‘pure’ place – where they are safe and secure.



However, this ‘immunity’ from questioning has provided a secure gateway for the exploitation and abuse of children at the hands of the Molvis there. As the stigma is coming off slowly, it has revealed one horrifying reality: Rapes at Madrassas.



Rape is on the opposite spectrum of worship. We’d never expect something like this to happen at places of worship, we can turn a blind eye and pretend it doesn’t happen, but it does – All.The.Time.



This week, a Madrassa teacher in Mansehra named Shamsuddin, with the help of 3 other accomplices, raped a 10-year-old child – over a 100 times.



Read it again – ONE HUNDRED TIMES.





The child had gone through it so many times that he was rushed to the hospital when his eyes started to bleed.



A

ten-year-old cried Khoon ke ansoo because he was repeatedly subjected to rape.

In addition, he also faced inhumane amounts of torture too – piling on to his trauma. The child’s health was constantly deteriorating and he was moved to Ayub Medical Complex. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister has taken notice of the incident and has instructed authorities to arrest the culprits as soon as possible.

Usually, in Pakistan whenever you talk about rape, it’s immediately followed by lots of questions like “what was she wearing?” “What was she doing out late at night?” “Where were her parents?” “She must’ve done something to invite the rape”



Why do we only assume women get raped? Child rapes are being reported every single day and a lot of these children are boys. Little boys, who shouldn’t have to deal with anything like this.



Is there ever going to be a day where our children are safe from horrors like this?