Outrage over man caught on video whipping children

Jeddah : There has been an outpouring of anger and concern on social media over a video purportedly showing a man whipping four young boys with a bamboo stick, according to an online publication report on Tuesday.

The 2-minute video shows the boys playing with a ball inside their home, when a man, identified only as Uncle Moaidh, starts beating them with a stick, according to the report.

Several major companies have reportedly offered gifts to the four young children, a move described by some on social media as opportunistic. Several users said the man’s actions could be termed abuse and prevalent in many homes in the country, while others argued that it was only a disciplinary measure.

On YouTube, a man calling himself Al-Maqdad, said: “When they grow up and become men they will remember this and laugh. We indulge and spoil our children, which is the main reason for them neglecting their fathers and mothers these days.”

Another man criticized the whipping. “Can you believe this is happening on International Day of Happiness?” in reference to the UN project held on March 20.

A government study has confirmed that physical and sexual violence against children is rising. Of about 250,000 phone calls recorded in one year, about 60 percent involved children being subjected to some form of abuse, said the study. 

The study, conducted by the National Family Safety Program (NFSP), found out that 13 percent of about 18,000 teenage respondents had experienced sexual violence, 53 percent neglect, and 80 percent physical and psychological abuse. 

The study found that 1 percent of children experienced sexual violence and 10 percent physical violence. 

Maha Al-Muneef, executive director of the NFSP, said during a seminar entitled “Domestic Violence: from total silence to legislation” held in Dammam recently, that there was a link between bad childhood experiences and chronic psychological diseases.

She said that only 11 percent of children who had bad experiences in their childhood were likely to develop diabetes, but this rises to 23 percent among those who had troubled early years. 

The percentages were 14 percent and 35 percent for blood pressure, 3 percent and 7 percent for drug addiction, and 5 percent and 21 percent for those with depression, she was quoted as saying.

Abdul Manan Bar, professor of psychological counseling at Umm Al-Qura University, confirmed the figures and said abused children develop behavioral disorders later in life. He said abused children become fearful and lack confidence.

Those who abuse children are “psychologically abnormal” because no sane person would behave in such a violent manner toward young people, he said.