Who Is Iqbal Masih? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Iqbal Masih was born on April 1, 1983, in Muridke, Pakistan, and is widely recognized as a heroic child activist who dedicated his short life to advocating against child labor. Unfortunately, he was murdered on April 16, 1995. As of 2025, he would have been 42 years old. Even years after his untimely death, Iqbal’s impactful story continues to inspire social movements around the globe and sheds light on the critical issue of child exploitation.
For more information, visit his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Children's Rights Activists |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1983 |
| Age | 12 Years |
| Birth Place | Muridke, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Date of death | 16 April, 1995 |
| Died Place | Muridke, Punjab, Pakistan |
Popularity
Iqbal Masih's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Since Iqbal Masih was only 12 years old at the time of his death, he stood at a height of approximately 4 feet 11 inches (150 cm) and weighed around 70 pounds (32 kg). His small stature symbolized the overwhelming burden carried by children forced into labor, enhancing the emotional impact of his story.
At the carpet maker's, Iqbal was chained to a loom and made to work as much as 14 hours a day. He was fed little and beaten, more than other children because of his attempts at escaping and refusal to work. These conditions stunted his growth; he had the height and weight of a 6-year-old when he was 12.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Iqbal Masih was born into a working-class family, and details about his family life remain limited. His relationship status is not well-documented as he was primarily focused on his activist efforts at such a young age. Tragically, he did not have the opportunity to experience adulthood or romantic relationships.
His parents were Saif Masih, a labourer, and Inayat Bibi, who worked as a house cleaner. Saif later abandoned the family, leaving Inayat to work and Iqbal's older sisters to take care of him and his siblings.
Net Worth and Salary
Given that Iqbal Masih dedicated his life to activism and was a child, he did not accumulate any net worth or salary in the traditional sense. His life was characterized by sacrifices, particularly for his passion for abolishing child labor practices that affected countless children like him.
Explaining the background behind bonded labourers in Pakistan, American professor C. Christine Fair states that "Large numbers of Christians in the Punjab and Sindh, in particular, are trapped in bonded labour or slavery in work like brick kilns and carpet-weaving.
Around 80% of brick kiln workers in some areas are Christians working to pay off family debts long since paid in absolute terms, yet who are illiterate and remain powerless to do anything about their circumstances.
The plight of Pakistan's bonded labourers came to international attention briefly with the murder of 12-year-old Christian Iqbal Masih in 1995".
Career, Business, and Investments
Iqbal's career as an activist began when he escaped from bonded labor at a carpet factory. After gaining freedom, he became an outspoken critiquing the child labor system, raising awareness about exploitation in various platforms. His work garnered international attention and inspired global campaigns aimed at ending child labor. Although he could not establish a business or make traditional investments, his legacy continues through organizations fighting for children’s rights.
At the age of 10, Iqbal escaped his slavery, after learning that bonded labour had been declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He escaped and attempted to report his employer Ashad to the police, but the police brought him back to the factory seeking a finder's fee for returning escaped bonded labourers.
Iqbal escaped a second time and attended the Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) school for former child slaves and quickly completed a four-year education in only two years. Iqbal helped over 3,000 Pakistani children that were in bonded labour escape to freedom and made speeches about child labour all over the world.
Social Network
Iqbal Masih is remembered not through social media networks, as they were non-existent during his lifetime, but through numerous organizations and events dedicated to raising awareness about child labor. His story continues to be shared and celebrated by various advocacy groups, schools, and international agencies working to ensure children's rights are upheld.
He expressed a desire to become a lawyer to better equip him to free bonded labourers, and he visited other countries, including Sweden and the United States, to share his story, encouraging others to join the fight to eradicate child slavery.
Education
Iqbal Masih's education was significantly impacted by his circumstances. While he demonstrated intelligence and a desire to learn, the bonds of forced labor impeded his ability to attend school consistently. Nevertheless, after escaping and becoming an activist, he used his platform to advocate for education as a fundamental right for children worldwide.
In 1994 he received the Reebok Human Rights Award in Boston, and in his acceptance speech he said: "I am one of those millions of children who are suffering in Pakistan through bonded labour and child labour, but I am lucky that due to the efforts of Bonded Labour Liberation Front, I go out in freedom I am standing in front of you here today.
After my freedom, I joined BLLF School and I am studying in that school now. For us slave children, Ehsan Ullah Khan and BLLF have done the same work that Abraham Lincoln did for the slaves of America. Today, you are free and I am free too."
