The Ministry of Social Affairs has launched an investigation into a video which shows a worker at the Afif Governorate Rehabilitation Center physically assaulting persons with disabilities. The ministry will refer the worker to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) if the images are found to be true, Muhammad Ali Al-Asmi, spokesman for the Ministry of Social Affairs was cited by Al-Madina newspaper as saying. “We're investigating the video and will fine the center and refer the person involved to the BIP if these images are proved to true.” The ministry will punish those found guilty, Al-Asmi said. The ministry cares for all disabled persons at all rehabilitation centers run by the ministry, he added. Dr. Muhammad Aal Zulfa, a former Shoura Council member, called on the Minister of Social Affairs to reconsider the monitoring at rehabilitation and shelter centers to prevent similar violent treatment from happening again. Saleh Al-Ghamdi, a lawyer, said the family of the disabled person shown on the video, and people on Twitter who have taken up the case, have the right to sue the rehabilitation center. The video has appeared on different websites and shows a screaming person with a disability being beaten and force fed and his ears being pulled. This is the second case registered against this center. Recently, a person with a disability complained to the director of the center that he was abused. The cameras recorded the scene and the person involved was referred to the police. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) called on the ministry to double check the qualifications of social care workers and to ensure they are aware of the ethics of their profession. Muhammad Al-Maadi, HRC spokesman, told Al-Eqtisadiah Arabic business daily that Dr. Bandar Bin Muhammad Al-Aiban, HRC Chairman, ordered that a committee investigate the alleged abuse case. The HRC said more cameras should be installed inside rehabilitation centers to ensure this does not happen again. The center accommodates 50 persons with disabilities and has 80 beds. The entire building has camera surveillance and is run by official workers. The government plans to build a fully-equipped rehabilitation center at a cost of SR42 million.
