10.00.00

00.01-00.35

00.37

Sudanese boy sings in Arabic over exterior shots of Koranic school, interiors of boys writing on tablets, kneeling

(V/O)

(?) Koranic school in the Sudan. Boys come here to memorise the Koran. That's a book about the size of the Old Testament, and for around seven years, they learn nothing else.

00.54

01.00

Religious master gesturing to boys

Religious master speaks to boy, raises whip (dubbed)

Discipline is harsh, and it's all too easy to break the rules.

RM: What are you looking at? Go away and don't look here again.

01.12

Religious master facing Mecca, praying

The boys lead a gruelling day which lasts for nearly 20 hours. Until a hundred years ago, it's the way most Muslims began their lives.

01.21

Boy washing face, boy's Arabic v/o (dubbed)

I wake up at 2:30 in the morning. I brush my teeth, wash for prayers, then pray a couple of times. Then we go down and read. Then we have a break to wash and make the dawn prayer. I wash my hands three times, I wash my mouth three times, I wash my face three times, then my arms up to my elbows three times.

01.54

Boys indoors, studying

The older boys teach the younger ones. Each day, they memorise one section of the Koran.

02.07

Teenage boy speaks (dubbed)

We're studying the Koran, which is brought by the prophet Mohamed- peace be on him- so that we can tell the difference between truth and myth. We study it as part of our faith. Our aim is to learn the holy Koran, and all people should do that.

02.43

An off-screen interviewer speaks with a boy (both are dubbed)

Interviewer: Discipline is strict. Do they treat you well?

Boy: The sheikhs treat us quite well. They're especially good to those who work hard. But boys who go to the market, want to laze around? The sheikhs won't be good to them.

03.05

Line of boys in front of empty bowls

With only two meals a day, the boys are always hungry. Di al-Fallah is the star of the school. He's just finished learning the Koran. For him it took just four years. Today, he gets to eat first. Di says he's pleased he won't have to eat the food anymore.

03.40

Large pot of sorghum being stirred

The boys eat a diet of sorghum, a staple of the Sudan. It doesn't provide a balanced meal, but for the Sudan, it's more than most get.

03.55

Boys eating messily with fingers

04.05

Boy walking with chains around ankles

And for those who rebel against the system, the punishments are harsh. For trying to escape, Issar has been sentenced to thirty days in chains. He doesn't want to learn the Koran, and would prefer to learn something else.

04.27

Issar being interviewed (dubbed)

Interviewer: Why did you escape?

Issar: I don't want to learn the Koran.

Interviewer: Why?

Issar: I want to go to a normal school.

Interviewer: But why?

Issar: Because then I'll be able to have holidays and see my family.

04.55

Sheikh walks through school, followed by group of boys (conversation is dubbed)

Interviewer: Why was the boy we interviewed in chains?

Sheikh: Because he escaped. He didn't want to stay and learn the Koran. We have so many who remained chained until they learn all the Koran.

05.12

Boy walking in chains

Ali also doesn't want to be here. In fact, many of the boys didn't seem to be very happy. None would speak about how they came to the school except to say their parents brought them here. Ali is struggling with his studies; he hasn't mastered Arabic yet and faces the prospect of many more years in chains unless he accepts his task.

05.42

Ali speaks with interviewer (conversation is dubbed)

Ali: I was chained because they said I'm not learning the holy Koran, and because I don't want to stay here.

Interviewer: Why do you want to escape?

Ali: When I was told that I would have to come here, to learn the Koran, I told them I was working.

Interviewer: What work would you do?

Ali: Mechanic.

06.22

Sheikh roughly handles some boys, boy being whipped and crying

The United Nations's recent human rights report accused the authorities here of forcing Christian street children into such institutions. The authorities ensured we didn't speak to any, but it was clear it takes a great deal of force to keep many of the boys in this school.

06.49

Sheikh speaks (dubbed)

They must give up playing. Playing is harmful. It doesn't allow them time to study. Anyone who misbehaves is whipped so that he doesn't play anymore. When his colleagues see him being whipped, he will stop playing and become afraid. The Koran is difficult. If they do not work hard, they will not be able to memorise it all. The Koran is not like other school subjects.

07.31

Ali walking surrounded by boys

Boys washing boards

Towards the end of the day, Ali is supposed to have memorised everything he wrote on his board that morning. Now, the boys wash their boards before reciting what they've memorised to the school masters. Later the boys will drink the washing water. It's supposed to help them learn the Koran. Because Ali is in chains, everyone takes advantage of him.

08.01

Interview with school master (dubbed)

Interviewer: Isn't it hard for the students to work from dawn till 10 at night?

SM: There's no other way possible for the boys to learn the Koran. It must be full time. Memorising the Koran is very difficult. They need all their time spent learning.

08.28

Boys praying

The school says more children are coming to Islam than ever before.

06.04

Sheikh speaks (dubbed)

 What we see now, in this Islamic revival, is only meeting the natural wishes of the Sudanese. And enhancing their link to Allah. Sudan will carry the torch of Islam to all countries, including you own.

09.22

Boys praying at night, boy's v/o (dubbed)

They let us go at 5.30 for dusk prayers, and then we go back to memorise and recite for the sheikh. At 8.00, they let us go for the night prayer. Then, we recite to the sheikh everything we've learned during the day. At 10.00 at the night, we go to sleep.