PAKISTAN: A sexual harassment of a 6 year old boy by his teacher 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 6-year-old boy named Talha was allegedly sexually abused by his Quran teacher, Mr. Altaf at the Lajna Mosque on College Road, Green Town, Lahore, Punjab province, Pakistan on 6 June 2004. Mr. Altaf was arrested and is currently detained at the Kot Lakhpat Jail. However, it is reported that the religious groups are pressuring the boy’s family to withdraw the complaint at the Green Town Police Station. Your urgent action is required to pressure the local authorities to ensure justice for the boy’s family.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Talha, (6 years old)
Alleged perpetrator: Muhammad Altaf, a maulvi at the Lajna Mosque
Date of incident: 6 June 2004
Place of the incident: Lajna Mosque on College Road, Green Town, Lahore, Punjab province, Pakistan

Case details:

On 6 June 2004, a 6-year-old boy named Talha was allegedly sexually abused by his Quran teacher but the religious groups are pressuring the boy’s family to withdraw the complaint.

On June 2004, Talha was allegedly assaulted by maulvi (Islamic religious priest) Muhammad Altaf, 26, at the Lajna Mosque on College Road, Green Town. Talha’s grandfather, Muhammad Aslam, registered the First Information Report (FIR) at Green Town Police Station against Mr. Altaf under Section 12/7 of the Hudood Ordinances on 7 June 2004.

According to FIR, in the afternoon of 6 June 2004, Talha’s mother went to the Lajna Mosque because Talha, who went to the mosque to study, did not come back home at his usual time. When she arrived in the mosque, she found that her son was lying in the corridor. He was bleeding and unconscious.

At that time, Muhammad Altaf was not in the mosque. Talha’s family asked help to their neighbors and they took Mr. Altaf into the police custody. Later, Talha clearly identified Mr. Altaf as his attacker in front of Green Town police and gave his statement about the incident. The initial medical report confirmed that Talha was sexually abused. Mr. Altaf is currently detained at the Kot Lakhpat Jail.

However, according to Talha’s family, various religious groups, including the Tableeghi Jamaat and Jamia Ashrafia, where Mr. Altaf reportedly studied, are pressuring them to withdraw the case. It is reported that some of their neighbors in Nasir Colony are also pressuring the family to withdraw the charges against Mr. Altaf. The family is worried that the maulvis might threaten the whole community.

In addition, police investigators are allegedly pressured by religious groups, too. According to Mr. Mahmoodul Hassan, the Green Town Investigation Deputy Superintendent of Police, the police called a meeting of the maulvis and the family on 17 June 2004. An investigating officer Aftab Pervez said the police’s job was to investigate the case and if the complainants and accused wanted to reach a compromise that was up to them.

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