Children as young as three are being lashed at a Muslim refugee camp in Chad for not reciting the Koran loud enough.
A teenager with a leather whip teaches the holy text to around 30 boys and girls who fled sectarian violence from neighbouring Central African Republic.
The cruel tutor whips the children for not being enthusiastic enough, losing attention for just a moment or even making a small mistake.
On Wednesday, a small boy too young to speak was struck in the eye by a strike meant for another girl.
The class continued to sing as his anguished cries echoed through the room - inspiring a moment of tenderness from the oppressive teacher who tended to the youngster's injury.
It has been more than a year since these refugees fled their home country when Christian extremists began killing members of a Muslim militia group that overthrew the government in 2013.
Their devout parents are aware of the corporal punishment their kids suffer at the madrassa - or Islamic school - but send them there anyway.
The unofficial establishment offers the children some relief from the blistering sun overhead, as others learn more traditionally at the formal school elsewhere in the camp.
Officials from UNICEF who maintain a presence in the camp near Chad's capital N'Djamena say they were not aware the school existed.
Chad has also become home to thousands of Nigerians who fled attacks by Boko Haram - another extremist Islamic group which has recently pledged allegiance to ISIS.
More than 5,000 Muslims of Chadian descent live in the camp built on the site of an unfinished resort complex near 10 miles from its capital.
Many of them came via a route established between CAR's capital Bangui and N'Djamena and some of their trucks came under attack along the way.
40-year-old Amin Idris said: 'I am a marketing director of an import-export business in Bangui. We have been here for over a year now. I cannot go back until the situation in Bangui is safe.'
But it may be a while before it is safe to return, with many Muslims trapped in isolated communities across the impoverished country and threatened by the violence of Christian fighters.
CAR comprises around 4.6 million citizens and was plunged into sectarian conflict amid the violent rule of a Muslim rebel coalition that was forced from power by the Christian anti-Balaka fighters.
Both sides have committed human rights abuses and severe instability threatens democratic elections due to take place this year, after they were organised by a transitional government.
(dailymail.co.uk)
ANN.Az
Follow us !
