SANAMEIN, Syria, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- One child has been shot dead in Syria as a result of student protests against the government on the first day of school, activists said.
Ibrahim Mohammed al-Farouj, 11, of Sanamein was shot in the head as children boycotted, chanting, "No studying, no teaching until the president is toppled," The (British) Guardian reported Sunday.
Many schools throughout the country were closed because they were being used to detain protesters and teachers, while more than half of parents in the city of Hama were keeping their children home out of fear for their safety. At least one child was arrested for protesting in the city of Homs.
Young people have been leading protests throughout Syria for the past six months after 12 children under the age of 15 were arrested for anti-government graffiti.
Human rights activist Radwan Ziadeh said 182 people under the age of 18 have been killed by the Syrian government, The Guardian reported.
