Even strict laws fail to protect children

frenchieman
By frenchieman

 

Serial child rapist sets alarm bells ringing in Jeddah

 

 

JEDDAH: An alarming case involving a serial child rapist and kidnapper has raised fear among parents living in the Kingdom.

Police recently arrested a man in connection with the series of attacks. He has since been charged with kidnapping and raping 13 girls since 2008. The suspect is a 42-year-old married Saudi schoolteacher with five children.

"Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries and honestly I feel like Jeddah is one of the safest and most peaceful cities compared to what goes on in the Middle East or in big metropolitan cities globally. But recent cases of kidnap and rape have ignited fear in the minds of many parents, including myself," Kholoud Samarji, a 44-year-old mother of two, told Arab News.

Many residents believe that most rape cases go unreported because of the belief that such incidents would damage the affected families’ honor.

"In most cases where a rape has taken place, the family tries to suppress the matter because it will give them a bad name. People will try and preserve their reputation rather than report a case where a female member has been abused," said Salma Shukar, a 37-year-old HR manager in Jeddah.

She believes people should be more culturally and morally aware and respond appropriately to incidents they feel threaten society, as that can help crack down on crime and prevent further exploitation of women and children.

On Thursday a 12-year-old Saudi boy who reportedly went joyriding with a friend in Qassim got injured in the process. He later claimed he was kidnapped and injured when he was forced out of the car.

Claiming a ransom, making a political statement, vengeance and sexual motives are often the reasons why kidnappings are carried out.

Children are seen as easy victims and an increasing rate of child assaults recently have proven they are prime targets.

 

Faisal Badar, head of security at a girls school in Jeddah, said: "I have to ensure that every girl gets into the right car. Sometimes men try and give their numbers out but I make sure they disperse without causing chaos. I know drivers by face now and in many cases I confirm with the girls if they know the driver they are going with.”

He claimed most men who are rather old and roam in expensive cars “probably have daughters the age of the girls they chase.”

 

 

Full story:  http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article456196.ece?comments=all

The lesson to parents is never let your guard down no matter how safe you think you and your children might be.

 

 

 

By nomerci• 12 Jul 2011 21:01
Rating: 3/5
nomerci

Kareena, interesting post.Looks like nothing much has changed from the "old times".

By Alumnar• 12 Jul 2011 20:35
Rating: 3/5
Alumnar

I really admire the ignorance of some people.

We are discussing the topic the OP decided to post. So let's be thick and stupid enough to go and talk about the West! Voila, it turns into West bashing. What a surprise, really NOT!

Sajmarhad and others, let me be as clear as Xena here:

NO MATTER WHERE PAEDOPHILES ARE FROM - CHOP THEIR HEADS OFF FIRST AND THEN ASK QUESTIONS!!!!

Got it?????

By frenchieman• 12 Jul 2011 19:41
frenchieman

Would you direct me to the thread please, because I honestly don't remember it?

By s_isale• 12 Jul 2011 19:13
Rating: 4/5
s_isale

This was discussed a few weeks back. Frenchie you were also involved  in that discussion earlier.

By Xena• 12 Jul 2011 14:44
Rating: 4/5
Xena

did you actually read any of FM's posts?

Please forgive the capitals everyone - just need to get through to someone

THE TOPIC WAS STARTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE MATTER THAT PARENTS ARE NOT AS VIGILANT AS TO WHAT GOES ON IN THESE GULF COUNTRIES, BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEN AS SAFE AND NO ONE IS AT RISK!!!!!

Did you manage to understand my LOUD words, Sajmarhab?

 

By frenchieman• 12 Jul 2011 14:38
frenchieman

So sajmarhab--so would your advice be to not discuss such things as it reflects poorly on Saudi Arabia?  The article did, after all, first appear in a SAUDI newspaper.Why turn something like this into a racial or religious issue?  Such childishness simply takes away from a serious issue.

By sajmarhab• 12 Jul 2011 14:28
Rating: 4/5
sajmarhab

Frenchieman, is very busy, finding faults in ME, especially in Kingdome, and especially the crimes that done by MUSLIMS.

 

Frenchie. You are wonderful.... Dear Qlers, IF am wrong please check this lovable French fries posts.... you can see clean adn clear...

By sajmarhab• 12 Jul 2011 14:28
Rating: 4/5
sajmarhab

Frenchieman, is very busy, finding faults in ME, especially in Kingdome, and especially the crimes that done by MUSLIMS.

 

Frenchie. You are wonderful.... Dear Qlers, IF am wrong please check this lovable French fries posts.... you can see clean adn clear...

By Kareena74• 12 Jul 2011 14:22
Rating: 4/5
Kareena74

 

I posted the above article int his context...

Faisal Badar, head of security at a girls school in Jeddah, said: "I have to ensure that every girl gets into the right car. Sometimes men try and give their numbers out but I make sure they disperse without causing chaos. I know drivers by face now and in many cases I confirm with the girls if they know the driver they are going with.”

He claimed most men who are rather old and roam in expensive cars “probably have daughters the age of the girls they chase.”

Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1954806#comment-1926390#ixzz1RtBgQhKK

By Kareena74• 12 Jul 2011 14:20
Rating: 5/5
Kareena74

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-09-04/india/27865977_1_minor-girl-arabs-prospective-brides

By Kareena74• 12 Jul 2011 14:19
Rating: 5/5
Kareena74

One minor girl, many Arabs

Mohammed Wajihuddin, TNN Sep 4, 2005, 11.41am IST

They are old predators with new vigour. Often bearded, invariably in flowing robes and expensive turbans. The rich, middle-aged Arabs increasingly stalk the deprived streets of Hyderabad like medieval monarchs would stalk their harems in days that we wrongly think are history. These Viagra enabled Arabs are perpetrating a blatant crime under the veneer of nikaah, the Islamic rules of marriage. Misusing the sanctioned provision which allows a Muslim man to have four wives at a time, many old Arabs are not just marrying minors in Hyderabad, but marrying more than one minor in a single sitting.

"The Arabs prefer teenage, virgin brides," says Jameela Nishat, who counsels and sensitises young women against the malaise. Two of her volunteers, Shahida Yasmeen and Tasneem Sultana, in their early twenties experienced the trauma of being scanned by an old Arab. A few months ago, they accompanied an undercover television reporter who was following these sham marriages. They reached a home where half a dozen other prospective brides were gathered. "It resembled a brothel. The girls were paraded before the Arab who would lift the girls' burqa, run his fingers through their hair, gaze at their figures and converse through an interpreter," says Yasmeen recalling the day.

Most girls inspected by the Arab were minors, and forced by a complex union of their parents and Islamic clerics to yield to the preliminary probes of the Arab.

 

Curiously, the high priests of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the fatwa brigade of Darul Uloom Deoband, who are gearing up to defend the legality of Islamic Courts in the Supreme Court, seem to have shut their eyes to this phenomenon that is aided and abetted by Hyderabad's Qazis or clerics.

Many Qazis prepare both marriage and divorce formalities together. While marriages require the grooms to be present, divorces are a bit different. A talaaq can be given verbally, through a letter, an email, telegraph, phone or even sms. "Many talaaqs are coming through sms these days," confirms Mufti Abdul Ahad Falahi, a Qazi at a Darul Qaza in Mumbai. "If a woman who has received an intimation of talaaq doubts its veracity, she can check with her husband. If he accepts he has sent the message, the talaaq will be valid."

By frenchieman• 12 Jul 2011 13:58
Rating: 4/5
frenchieman

"Frenchieman please list some of these strict laws, or what is the defintion of strict laws, give an example of some laws which are strict and some which are not strict."SA--I'm not quite sure what you mean.  But I think we can agree that KSA generally has much stricter laws and punishments that most countries, including other GCC countries.  It also has much stricter rules about the mingling of the sexes, which in theory should present less opportunities for attacks of this nature.The point of the thread, however, is not criticize Saudi or any country.  As we know, news is quite tightly controlled in the Gulf, so it is rare that a story of this nature is printed.  In this case I assume it is as a public warning to parents to take better care.  Qatar, like KSA, has a low contact crime rate compared to other countries, so it is very easy for people to become relaxed toward the safety of their children (myself included).  I see it all the time.  The article reminds me that depraved people such as this man live in every community, no matter how safe we think it is.  That's why I posted it.

By anonymous• 12 Jul 2011 13:45
anonymous

but they dont suicide instead they kill innocent

By Kareena74• 12 Jul 2011 13:42
Rating: 5/5
Kareena74

Why does the West always gets blamed for everything that goes around here..  So is Suicide bombing also a western concept?

By anonymous• 12 Jul 2011 13:10
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

More bans more crimes....

By anonymous• 12 Jul 2011 13:10
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

More bans more crimes....

By Straight Arrow• 12 Jul 2011 13:07
Rating: 5/5
Straight Arrow

It all depends on how strong is the belief of these men in Saudi Arabia who chase girls or considered as rapist.

A personal with no beliefs (not necessary Islam or Christianity or Jews or ...etc) might do bad things, a belief can be for example applying this sentence treat the people the way you want to be treated, or just be good and benifit others as much as you can when you are asked to help, some people help with out being asked.

Frenchieman please list some of these strict laws, or what is the defintion of strict laws, give an example of some laws which are strict and some which are not strict.

When people obey laws problems should not occur, Frenchieman if you know that holding a certain thing will burn your hand will you hold this certain thing?

Also note that if you try to hold it by some means that your hand does not get burnt but your body will be harmed will you still do it and try to hold this certain thing?

 

By hapy• 12 Jul 2011 12:47
Rating: 2/5
hapy

He will be stoned to death i think.

By sanoon• 12 Jul 2011 12:21
sanoon

don't judge the book by its cover.

By sanoon• 12 Jul 2011 12:20
sanoon

don't judge the book by its cover.

By jasonbquizon• 12 Jul 2011 11:54
Rating: 2/5
jasonbquizon

News on the middle east especially on KSA is largely regulated. Does the figures given rerally reflects what happens on the ground, since it was also stated that a lot of abuses have gone  unreported. In the age of internet and cable TV, it amazes how [people can live in their own bubble, personnel and national bubble as well.

By anonymous• 12 Jul 2011 11:41
anonymous

I wish there were stricter laws to protect children - I also wish there were stricter law makers who stuck to them :-(It is kept so secret and that is the problem. If women are not allowed to report they have been abused - who speaks for the children?I think a lot of people are lulled into a false sense of security.On the whole though - I still think this  is a safe region to raise children.

By Xena• 12 Jul 2011 11:29
Rating: 5/5
Xena

TB:-)

I am just so tired of people not keeping to topic and always trying to lay blame elsewhere - when clearly a simple solution will help keep the issue at a minimum.

By Xena• 12 Jul 2011 11:16
Rating: 5/5
Xena

to be honest... I am sick of the analogy "but it happens everywhere" for once, can we just have a conversation on topic?

Frenchie brought out this article to discuss how lax people are with their kids security, especially in GCC countries where we are all a lot less observant/a lot more care free.

Please, lets stick to that... and not take it off on a rant.

By Xena• 12 Jul 2011 11:10
Rating: 5/5
Xena

As much as this has managed to keep out of the East/West blame game, you have to bring up crap like that, don't you...

I think I would rather put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Saudi rulers, in this case - the reason? Because they have kept their people living in a bubble for far too long - as with all the countries in the region - did the rulers really believe that things like this wouldn't happen.

Its been going on for centuries, probably, but kept quite - shhhh... don't say anything to rock the boat - the less people know, the better off they are - ignorance is bliss, as they say - if Saudi had been more forth right and brought things like this to light earlier on, then maybe this man, and other like him, will be brought to justice sooner - which in countries in the GCC, should be a much easier task, since their intelligence operations are quite advanced.

 

By anonymous• 12 Jul 2011 11:09
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

It's not just children who should watch out.  Women need to be careful in general in this region, it's nowhere near as safe as people would have you believe.

By FathimaH• 12 Jul 2011 11:02
Rating: 4/5
FathimaH

Just goes to show yet again "low crime dosen't mean no crime". Hope the sicko is put to death..pronto!As a mom I must admit I'm cautious to a point of paranoia as far as matters pertaining to my child's safety go. Heard too many horror stories to ever let my guard down. Hence it disturbs me no end to see my neibours allowing their adorable lil girls(like 5 years or younger) to go out all alone to the shops at all odd times. Do they really live in a bubble? 

By anonymous• 12 Jul 2011 10:48
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

they are getting inspired from them

By ingeniero• 12 Jul 2011 10:15
Rating: 4/5
ingeniero

one must take care of children..feeling like gulf situation, crime rate going to be bad more and more.. in next few years, it will not be the same, saudi arab news are coming out, and situation doesn't favor all time, same will be in qatar and other arab nations. lets see whats the reality in other nations. you should be careful here also, may ur and of every parent children be in peace

By Kareena74• 12 Jul 2011 10:08
Rating: 5/5
Kareena74

We tend to take it for granted I guess.. I would suggest one should always be careful when it comes to young innocent kids.

By Kareena74• 12 Jul 2011 10:06
Rating: 5/5
Kareena74

He claimed most men who are rather old and roam in expensive cars “probably have daughters the age of the girls they chase.”

I guess men like these have no right to live.. They deserve their d---- to be chopped off.. Dirty old men.

By frenchieman• 12 Jul 2011 10:06
Rating: 3/5
frenchieman

No.  Both stories were in one of the papers I read online every day, and they caught my attention, particularly this one as I think parents get lulled into a false sense of security in the Gulf.  I'm guilty of this, as I keep a much closer I on my kids in shopping districts in Paris and London than I do here--and I suspect other expats do too.

By ingeniero• 12 Jul 2011 10:03
ingeniero

frenchi you are searching today news about saudia??

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