The Rat Children - Pakistan

November 1999
How can a mere myth ruin the lives of thousands of children? In Pakistan, microcephalics-babies born with abnormally small heads-are known as 'rats' and credited with god-like powers. Believers will give them money in the hope of blessings, but unscrupulous gangs of beggars are now exploiting this ancient tradition for their own ends. They kidnap young 'rat' children - or frighten parents into handing them over-and then force them into a lifetime of begging on the streets. They are lucrative-so much so that some people allege that normal babies are benig deliberately deformed to look like microcephalics. Why else, they ask, are there so many such children in Pakistan? And until something is done to combat the myth, the helpless 'rat' children will be condemned to a life of abuse.

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[myusernameishamza]

its sad to see all these american christians thinking theyre brave insulting disbaled people through youtube. no wonder the weorld wants the US dead, thats all they can do, bully the less able.

[Django5198]

@logikclay32 inside, they're a lot more beautiful than you

[smithsbobson]

they're basically like pimps. in a way

[yahoopig]

What happens when you sleep with your sister

[Nusrat5791]

@myusernameishamza and you are worse than "these american christians". you wish an entire nation of 300 million dead because of a few ignorant comments on you tube.

truth is that most illiterate people who buy into religion are exploited by "holy men".

i too was born a muslim but when i read darwin i became an agnostic and reject muhammad, jesus etc.

wish more pakistanis, esp the poor, would stop praying to allah, instead try educating their children so their next generation's lot might improve

[logikclay32]

They all look like dirty rats!!

[ZahraaaH]

@voltoz911420 You weren't even reading what I said, just running your mouth. Clearly, you're an American! 24 years old and in first year? LOL. I thought I was old:S What did you do? Graduate from high school at the age of 23? You know, where I live, most people are in grad school: ) Hard to believe you're in university. Go back to grade one and learn to spell:S

[voltoz911420]

@ZahraaaH OK, even i said it 1 of the fastest... and i know wats going on globally i am a Student in engineering, 1st yr, almost 24 yr old.... so dont think i DONT KNOW FUCK ABT WATS HAPPENING IN DA WORLD///// :|

[ZahraaaH]

@ZahraaaH And I am "fucking" Indian just so you know. I would know more about my dad's country than you, so gtfo.

[ZahraaaH]

@voltoz911420 i said ONE of the fastest. Learn to read asshole. First of all, I'm a woman. Second of all stfu, you're so NOT current with whats going on globally. Please go pick up a copy of the Economist or order it online. It will do you good. You'll have new information to "bark" about. Cliché.

[voltoz911420]

@ZahraaaH India, 2nd fastest growing economy, after China, Brazil economy is growing but not the FASTEST, go check on sites, sources, go check India economy and military future, Indian Economy will be ranked No 1 in 2050.... Mr. Economist! if u dont know abt india then dont FUCKING BARK....... :| simple as dat, i know Brazil is growing but Not FASTEST.... and India and China r totally dependent on exports and imports. Oil, patrol and all r exchanged and imported....