If You Believe

In Pakistan, an estimated 1.7 million people live as bonded laborers. Little more than glorified slaves, these workers-- sometimes entire families- -are bound to their employers until their debts are paid. Often these debts are inherited and passed from generation to generation.

Enter Syeda Fatima, a civil rights worker based in Lahore, Pakistan, who fights for the rights and freedom of this overlooked community. Fatima works with bonded laborers to help them achieve basic human rights such as health care and national identity cards.

Narrated by executive producer Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, "If You Believe," is part of a series of portraits of women in Pakistan who are trying to reform society. Obaid-Chinoy won Pakistan's first-ever Academy Award this year for her short documentary "Saving Face."

For more great stories, subscribe to The I Files: http://goo.gl/0Bc68

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE:
Like The I Files on Facebook: http://fb.com/theifiles
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ifiles
Reblog on Tumblr: http://theifiles.tumblr.com
Repin on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/theifiles
+1 on Google+: http://gplus.to/ifiles

• Category

  News & Politics

[meralodem]

Please establish a cooperation for those workers to have their own job as brick kiln owners and raise a donation, I myself would be happy to donate some

[JR3289]

I wish i was next to the woman while she argued with the brick kiln owners, I'd have pulverized them.