Ayman Al-Saydalani Okaz/Saudi Gazette MADINAH — Many residents of Madinah were both angered and surprised when a foreign research student at a local university was arrested a few months ago for torturing his nine-year-old son Adel who was living with him in Madinah. The man had taken the boy away from his divorced mother in Yemen. Adel's father, who is a PhD candidate at the Islamic University of Madinah, is currently in jail serving time for what he did to his only son while Adel was sent to his mother in Yemen. The whole story started when Ayoub, the abusive father, married Ahlam (Adel's mother) in Yemen. He was living with Ahlam's family who treated him well and married him to their daughter, Ahlam. Five days after the marriage, Ayoub started to show his real character, according to Ahlam. Even though he assaulted her several times, Ahlam was patient and did not tell anyone. After two months, Ayoub went to Madinah to pursue a master's and PhD degree in a religious major at the university. Seven months later, Ahlam gave birth to Adel, who did not know what was awaiting for him at the hands of his cruel father. When Ayoub returned to Yemen, he asked his wife to kiss his feet but she refused. He then began assaulting her and only stopped when she screamed and cried for help. Her family members stepped in and saved her from the claws of her brutal husband. Ahlam continued to suffer at the hands of her husband for two years until she finally demanded a divorce. After they were divorced, the brutal father returned to Saudi Arabia and then after a few years, went back to Yemen where he asked his ex-wife to let Adel live with him in Madinah. Although Ahlam initially refused his request, she gave in after he convinced her he would take good care of his son. Once he had custody, the father tortured his young son for six months. He beat him up, scalded him, pulled out his nails, burned him and sometimes took him to the desert, tied him up and threatened to kill him if he told anyone. Adel listened to his father's orders and continued to suffer in silence. One day, a teacher at Adel's school saw scars on the child's body and took him to hospital and reported the matter to the police. Following investigations into the case, police arrested the father and put him in jail. Psychologist Dr. Naif Al-Marwani said Adel's father is a psychopath. “People with psychopathic personalities face great difficulty in quelling the conflicts that wrench their souls,” Dr. Al-Marwani was quoted as saying. They often suffer from social and financial pressures that tend to make them hostile and violent, he noted. All the negative feelings they bottle up inside, they take out on their closest ones. Adel's father felt the same and took it out on his little son. “The father ruthlessly tortured his son because he knew no one could stop him. He felt great relief every time he did it.” Legal consultant Dr. Ibrahim Al-Abadi said the father should receive a discretionary punishment because such cases are decided upon according to what the judge deems suitable and just. Ghazi Al-Mutairi, professor at the Dawah and Islamic Culture School of Islamic University of Madinah, said domestic violence cases have been on the increase and this should alarm society. “If a father today hurts and tortures his own flesh and blood, there is no telling who he will hurt tomorrow. We should conduct studies on domestic violence cases and come up with solutions instead of constantly blaming ourselves and society for the rise in such cases.” He suggested that a toll-free number should be set up so victims can report abusers.
