Father denies schoolgirl’s death charges in court

Manama  : The father of a nine-year-old girl, who was allegedly tortured to death, denied the charges levelled against him when appeared before the High Criminal Court for the first time yesterday. According to the case, the father and the girl’s stepmother were accused of beating the girl to death. 

Hidd-resident Zahra Fakhri succumbed to severe injuries as the child was beaten up with iron rods. Her father, an Arab national, and her stepmother have been arrested in connection with the case. 

The stepmother didn’t appear yesterday before the court. The father entered a not guilty plea, stating that he had never beaten up his daughter. 

DT News had reported earlier that a letter purportedly signed by several teachers of Maryam Bint Imran Girls Primary School has accused the Principal of being idle albeit knowing about the plight of the girl. The letter went viral on social media platforms recently. 

“The girl told about it to the Principal and the school’s administration. Then the Principal summoned the father and forced him to sign a pledge to stop torturing her,” a source said.

Meanwhile, sources informed that the Principal had warned the teachers not to interfere in the incident or making any statement about Zahra’s suffering. 

The father has been remanded for 15 days, pending trial.