Seven Koranic teachers in Senegal have been condemned¹ to jail sentences after they were found guilty of forcing children to beg.

塞内加尔七位可兰经老师因为强迫孩子们乞讨而被判监禁。

Islamic students are often forced to beg to bring in money for unscrupulous teachers

However, the teachers will only go to prison if they force children to beg again within the next six months.

Up to 50,000 children are being exploited by their teachers in Koranic schools in Senegal, according to Human Rights Watch.

This is the first time that a court has condemned such abuses.

'Mass trafficking'

A tougher sentence may have been expected but Wednesday's ruling is symbolic².

A law was passed five years ago which criminalised the forcing of another person to beg but it was not enforced.

It was not until the end of last month that the police started rounding up beggars after a move by the authorities to clamp down on（压制） extremist Koranic masters who mistreat children in the name of religion.

Human Rights Watch says the latest ruling is a step in the right direction but there must be a sustained（持续的，持久的） effort to tackle the problem.

According to the organisation³, thousands of children are being trafficked between Senegal and neighbouring Guinea-Bissau.