Saudi Gazette report MADINAH — A Yemeni research scholar at Madinah's Islamic University has been arrested for assaulting and seriously injuring his 9-year-old son. Spokesman for Madinah police Col. Fahd Al-Ghannam said the Yemeni was referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution (BIP) after he admitted to the police during questioning that he had beaten his son, Adel, several times in order to discipline him. Adel's teacher notified the school's principal of suspected child abuse after he found bruises on the boy's body and a terrified look on his face. The teacher then took the child to hospital and notified the police, who arrested the father. Director of King Fahd Hospital in Madinah Dr. Abdulhameed Shahaat said the child was admitted to the emergency unit and all necessary treatment was provided to him. He said the child had a broken right forearm and bruises on different parts of his body. The principal of Al-Fuqahaa Al-Sabaah School said a teacher informed him of the bruises on the child's body. Adel initially claimed that he fell down and the bruises were the result of that. However, the next day he arrived late for the morning assembly covering his right arm. The teacher approached him and saw his hand swollen. Adel then said he was severely beaten by his father for no reason. He claimed that he was assaulted more than 30 times before and wanted to go and live in Yemen with his mother, who was divorced by his father. “My father is cruel. He hates me and does not want to see me in front of him. I live alone in a secluded room, which is never opened except to bring me food and let me go out to the bathroom,” Adel told Al-Madinah newspaper from his hospital bed. “I was virtually living in a prison. I hear the noise of my stepbrothers and sisters playing. I was isolated in the family for no mistake of mine. I respect my father, but I don't know the real reason for this harsh treatment. I will never forgive my father for violently attacking me.” The boy's case has shocked residents of the holy city. The director of Education in Madinah and the principal of his school visited Adel in hospital to check on his health. Adel's schoolmates also visited him and brought him roses. Meanwhile, Dr. Ali Bin Hassan Al-Muhammadi, a hospital director, said the boy's condition was improving gradually. He said X-rays confirmed the existence of a healed fracture in his skull, which was slightly bleeding. “The bleeding stopped without any surgical interference and will not cause him any harm,” said Al-Muhammadi. Supervisor of the National Society for Human Rights' Madinah branch Sharaf Al-Qarafi said a legal representative would visit the child in hospital. Social services authorities will be notified to look after the child in the meantime if a relative is not available. Al-Qarafi pointed out that a Ministry of Interior directive considers premeditated assault resulting in an injury that takes more than 15 days to heal as a grand criminal act.
