Teenager dies after torture at religious seminary in northwestern Pakistan

A 13-year-old boy died after being severely beaten by teachers at a religious seminary in northwestern Pakistan, police confirmed to Nukta.

The boy Majid* was studying at a religious school, known locally as a madrassa, in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He had been enrolled there to memorize the Holy Quran — a course known in Islamic tradition as hifz-e-Quran.

Speaking to Nukta, his uncle Nawab* said Majid had been away from the seminary for four days before returning on July 19. “I personally took him back,” he said. “Just three hours after I returned home, the police informed me that Majid had died.”

Nawab said his nephew had memorized 10 sections (paras) of the Holy Quran and lived at the seminary full time, as it was about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from their home. “He didn’t want to go back this time,” Nawab recalled. “But I assured him and got a promise from his teachers that he wouldn’t be beaten. Only then did he agree.”

Majid's funeral was held immediately due to the severity of his injuries. “His body was covered in bruises and bleeding from the torture,” the uncle confirmed.

In a video recorded at the seminary after the incident, several students appear visibly distressed and in tears. One eyewitness described the moments before the fatal beating, saying a teacher first ordered Majid to hold his ears as punishment before taking him into a room.

“Inside, three teachers began beating him with sticks and a rubber pipe,” the witness said. “They struck him so severely that he collapsed. When I tried to give him water, he was already taking his final breaths.”

Police confirm murder, sexual abuse investigation

Aziz Khan, Station House Officer (SHO) of Khwazakhela, told Nukta that two First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered on complaints by Majid’s uncle.

“One FIR charges the seminary administrator, Muhammad Umar, and his sons Abdullah and Ehsanullah with murder,” Khan said. “A second FIR under the Child Protection Act names all the teachers at the seminary, including those already charged with murder.”

Khan said the case began with a child abuse complaint. “Ehsanullah had attempted to sexually abuse Majid, but the boy resisted and informed his uncle,” he said. “That complaint appears to have provoked the accused, who then retaliated with a brutal beating that led to Majid’s death.”

Khan confirmed that four suspects, including Abdullah, have been arrested. Three others, including administrator Umar and his son Ehsanullah, remain at large. “We are conducting raids and will soon apprehend all those involved,” he said.

Authorities also suspect more than 150 students at the seminary could be at risk. “All children have been taken into protective custody, and their parents have been contacted to collect them,” Khan said. “The seminary will be sealed once all students are safely handed over.”

Not the first case

In May, a similar incident occurred in Khyber district, where a fifth-grade student died after allegedly receiving brutal corporal punishment from the principal of a private school during morning assembly. That case remains under judicial review.

A document obtained by Nukta from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission (KPCPWC) shows 794 child rights violations cases were reported in the province. These include abuse, disappearances, forced labor, corporal punishment, sexual violence, and murder. A total of 402 cases were reported in the first half of 2025 and 392 in the last six months of 2024.

‘Corporal punishment is a crime’

Child rights activist Imran Takkar told Nukta that the actual number of child abuse cases is likely much higher than reported, as many go undocumented. “We regularly receive reports of sexual abuse involving children, particularly from madrassas and hostels,” he said.

Takkar noted that many teachers still view corporal punishment as a cultural norm. “They believe they have the same disciplinary rights their elders had. But under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection Act, any form of corporal punishment is a criminal offense punishable by up to six months in prison.”

“In Majid’s case, this isn’t just corporal punishment — it involves sexual abuse and murder. The applicable punishment is life imprisonment or the death penalty,” he said.

Takkar urged strict enforcement of child protection laws and active parental involvement. “Parents must closely monitor their children’s behavior and interactions with teachers,” he said. “If a child shows signs of abuse or reports it, parents should immediately withdraw them and inform the police. Only then can we begin to curb these crimes.”

*Names changed to protect privacy.