Nairobi, Dec 1 (LatestNewsX) – A new report reveals that sexual abuse in Pakistan’s madrassas is part of a broader pattern of exploitation, with certain schools also involved in child trafficking. Some institutions recruit boys under the pretense of religious study and then force them into labour, militancy or domestic service. The lack of oversight allows these networks to flourish, and labeling the incidents as the crimes of a few “bad apples” overlooks the systemic reality that millions of children are left in unregulated, unaccountable schools.
The report highlighted that the recent detentions of madrassa teachers in Haripur and Muzaffargarh—charged with molesting children as young as five—are not isolated incidents. They point to Pakistan’s long‑standing, hidden crisis: where poverty, clerical power and institutional silence intersect to let child abuse thrive in secret, as detailed by the Kenyan outlet Capital News.
For countless impoverished families, madrassas are often the sole accessible source of education. They offer free schooling, food and religious instruction—a lifeline for parents with few alternatives. Yet this reliance turns the sector into one of the most loosely regulated child‑service operations in the country. When oversight collapses, abuse finds a fertile environment, the report observed.
Despite their central role in the country’s social and religious landscape, the reverence for madrassas can shield predators. Clerics hold substantial sway, enabling them to silence victims, intimidate families and influence local police. This is not speculation; media investigations and human‑rights groups have repeatedly documented patterns of bribery, coercion and, in extreme cases, blasphemy threats—a charge that can be deadly in Pakistan. In such a climate, economically disadvantaged families seldom feel empowered to challenge a religious authority, even when their children are at risk.
The culture of impunity is upheld by a police system that routinely refrains from pressing charges against religious figures. Complaints are often retracted under pressure or quietly dismissed, sending the bleak message that the system protects the cleric rather than the child.
Pakistan now faces a stark decision: continue protecting these abusive structures or step up to safeguard future generations. As the report warns, until the systems facilitating this violence are dismantled, madrassas will remain havens for predators, and the trauma cycle will go on unchecked.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
