Senegal: Talibé Children Still Suffering

Talibés who have run away from their Quranic schools stand on the banks of the Senegal River, in northern Senegal.
Talibés who have run away from their Quranic schools stand on the banks of the Senegal River, in northern Senegal.  © 2015 Mario Cruz
A young talibé boy studies the Quran, bound by chains in a Quranic school in the city of Touba, Senegal, in May 2015.
A young talibé boy studies the Quran, bound by chains in a Quranic school in the city of Touba, Senegal, in May 2015. In this school, the youngest talibés are shackled by their ankles to prevent them from running away. The children may remain chained for days, weeks, or months until they gain the teacher’s trust. Their guardian explained, “When I release them, I give them the freedom to beg like the rest of the talibés.”  © 2015 Mario Cruz
Talibés sleep together inside a traditional Quranic school in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in May 2015.
Talibés sleep together inside a traditional Quranic school in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in May 2015. The daara, lodging over 30 children, lacks clean water and has limited electricity. The children sleep on the concrete floor without protection from malaria-carrying mosquitos.  © 2015 Mario Cruz
A talibé checks on other talibés sleeping in a street of Saint-Louis, Senegal, in May 2015. Many talibé children who run away from abusive Quranic schools sleep on the streets in groups to protect themselves.
A talibé checks on other talibés sleeping in a street of Saint-Louis, Senegal, in May 2015. Many talibé children who run away from abusive Quranic schools sleep on the streets in groups to protect themselves.  © 2015 Mario Cruz
The talibé child depicted, age 8, was severely beaten by his Quranic teacher in Senegal’s northern city of Saint-Louis, in August 2015. The beating stripped the skin from his back and caused infection. In the photo, the wounds had partially healed. © 2015
The talibé child depicted, age 8, was severely beaten by his Quranic teacher in Senegal’s northern city of Saint-Louis, in August 2015. The beating stripped the skin from his back and caused infection. In the photo, the wounds had partially healed.  © 2015 Issa Kouyate
More than a dozen talibé boys between the ages of 6 and 14 were found shackled with iron bars in their Quranic school in Diourbel,Senegal
More than a dozen talibé boys between the ages of 6 and 14 were found shackled with iron bars in their Quranic school in Diourbel, Senegal, in February 2016. The boys were brought to the police station, where the shackles were removed. © 2016 Boucar Aliou Diallo for Le Quotidien

Photographs of young talibés – children attending Quranic schools – in Senegal. Many of these children are victims of forced begging and other abuses. The thousands of traditional Quranic schools across the country remain unregulated.

Region / Country

Related Content

Africa
More than a dozen talibé boys between the ages of 6 and 14 were found shackled with iron bars in their Quranic school in Diourbel,Senegal

July 28, 2016

Report
Senegal: New Steps to Protect Talibés, Street Children