Swat Madrassa Student Tortured to Death by Teachers Over Five Hours

Download IPFS

A 14-year-old madrassa student, identified as Farhan Ayaz, died after suffering brutal torture by his teachers at a religious seminary in Swat’s Khwazakhela area. The case, involving hours of alleged abuse, has ignited widespread calls for regulatory oversight of madrassas and protection for vulnerable children.

On July 21, 2025, Farhan Ayaz, who attended a rural madrassa in Chaliyar, Khwazakhela tehsil, was reportedly beaten severely by three teachers—Maulana Muhammad Umar, his son Ehsanullah, and Abdullah—for missing classes. According to police and media reports, the boy was confined in a room, forced into a “chicken position” for approximately two hours, and repeatedly struck with sticks. He was later taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead ([turn0search2], [turn0search1]).

A classmate recounted that Farhan “whispered for water before going silent,” and his grandfather stated that previous complaints about beatings had been ignored.

The tragedy prompted local residents to block Khwazakhela bazaar, demanding justice and legal accountability. The school premises were sealed pending investigation.

Experts and child protection advocates, including commentators like Saad Ali Khan, have criticized the lack of regulation for unregistered madrassas. They warn that without oversight, abusive teachers can act with impunity.

This incident follows another disturbing case in April, when a four-year-old child died after alleged torture in Batapur. Those events underscored serious systemic failures in safeguarding children’s rights in religious educational institutions.