Mum of 11-year-old who hanged himself after ‘being bullied at his new school’ posts heartbreaking letter online
Asad Khan had recently started a new school
THE devastated mum of an 11-year-old boy who hanged himself after 'being bullied at his new school' has written a heartbreaking letter to her son.
Little Asad Khan was found unconscious in his bedroom by his mum Farheen after she barged through his locked door.
In a poignant message Farheen described "the pain" of losing her eldest child and said she no longer wants to be in the home where it happened.
She called on other parents whose children witnessed Asad being bullied to come forward so she can get justice for her son.
In the message, which was shared on social media, Mrs Khan wrote: ";Asad, my eldest child, my everything. He was my greatest strength and support."
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She continued: "He was no ordinary child, he was very bright for his age, he was sensitive, loving and a very lively child.
"He did not die of a long term illness or an accident but ended his life.
";The pain of losing your child cannot be described.
"I witnessed him giving up, I cried for help, prayed he would start breathing, looked at the doctors with hope that they would save him but his time was up.
"To be told that your child was being bullied. The questions surrounding my mind are: 'What must he have he gone through during his last hours? What happened to him that he took such a drastic step?'
";Why would anybody bully him? He was harmless.”
Farheen said her son would not leave the house without “hugging and kissing” here, adding: “His love for his parents was beyond explanation.
"I am no longer able to step into my own house, the room where it all took place.
"Asad's memories echo in every corner of the house. He's gone and I have to accept that.
"I would like to take this opportunity to mention, there are no videos of my son being bullied, nor did he inform me of being bullied."
He was no ordinary child, he was very bright for his age, he was sensitive, loving and a very lively child.
Farheen Khan
"It is now that a number of friends in his school have mentioned that he got bullied.
"I request everyone to stand up against bullying, no child deserves to be mistreated.
"It is a serious issue and many are a victim of it. Today it is my child, tomorrow it could be one of yours.
"If your child witnessed my child getting bullied, please come forward. That is all a mother is asking for, justice for her child."
She said: "Bullying should become criminal law and it should be an offence.
"The people responsible for bullying Asad should be punished, they shouldn't be given protection.
"Some boys in the school must be doing this and we have no reason to think why they would pick on Asad.
"He has come along as a vulnerable, innocent child and they might have thought they could pick on him because he can't fight for himself and speak up for himself.
"I just think he couldn't find the words to tell anyone what was going on.
"We want to take this to Parliament now and get the law changed to make bullying an offence.
"A lot of children have a bright future that could be lost to bullying like Asad."
Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay tribute to Asad following his death.
Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who also shared the post on her Facebook page, said: "Asad's case has really touched a lot of people, not just in Bradford but across the UK.”
Ms Shah said she would be meeting with West Yorkshire Police and said the investigation into Asad's death was "very thorough".
An online campaign, Bite Bullying in the Bud - started in the wake of Asad's death - has called for changes in the education system in a bid to beat bullying.
More than 28,000 people have so far shown their support to the campaign.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "We are continuing to investigate what was happening in this boy's life prior to his death on behalf of the Coroner and are appealing for anyone with information which may assist this inquiry to come forward."
If you need help contact Child Line on 0800 11 11 or the Samaritans on 116 123