Saudi Gazette report ABHA — Two girls in Ahad Rafidah were allegedly subjected to sexual harassment by their father, and were admitted to the social protection center in Abha. Media personnel visited the center and met with the girls, 13 and 7 years old. The younger girl said her mother was divorced a year ago, and she and her eight brothers and sisters remained with their father. The father would bring in qat (a leafy narcotic) and ask them to clean it. He and a friend of his would then consume the narcotic and force the children to take some, the girl said. She claimed that two weeks ago, her father asked her into his room and to undress, but she refused. Her brother came into the room and saw the father beating his young sister. The father beat him too and shut the door. The brother told his older sister, who called their mother. The police were notified, and the father was apprehended. The older girl said her father did the same to her on several occasions, but she refused and ran away from him. She added that her father tried to prevent her from attending school, and would tear up her school books. Although she is 13 years old, she is still in third grade. She goes to school with no money, and cannot find anything to eat. The school would sometimes provide food for her. The two girls were admitted to hospital for examinations. During that time, they received one visit from neighbors. Their mother could not visit them, because she lives in a remote village. The center director, Asma Ismail, said the center was following the girl's case since they were admitted to hospital. They are now in the custody of the center for their protection. The center will send the father for a psychological examination and will also submit him for drug testing. A custody case on behalf of the mother will be submitted to court to grant her full custody of the children. She added that no one can take the children out of the center except with an order from the governorate.
