Pakistani Boy Killed for Not Memorizing Koran

An eight year old Pakistani boy was hung upside down on a ceiling fan as punishment for not memorizing the koran. He was found dead the next day by his family. The imam responsible for the boy's death was found hiding in an other village. BBC

A student of a religious seminary in Pakistan's Punjab province has died after he was punished by his teacher, police say.

Atif, seven, was hung upside down from a ceiling fan by Maulvi Ziauddin for not memorising his Koran lessons, his fellow students told the police.

Atif's condition deteriorated quickly and he died in the teacher's room. Maulvi Ziauddin has been arrested.

Human rights organisation say Pakistani children are often exposed to abuse.

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The students told the police in the town of Vehari that Atif was punished on Wednesday by Maulvi Ziauddin who left him hanging from the fan for some time.

The son of a farm labourer, Atif lived in the seminary with about 20 other students, including a cousin.

"When his cousin did not see Atif on Wednesday night or the next morning, he informed the family," a Vehari police official, Mohammad Afzal, told the BBC.

"Members of the family found Atif's body in Maulvi Ziauddin's room, but the cleric himself was missing," he said.

He was arrested from a nearby village later on Thursday.