Saudi father jailed for beating daughter to death

Riyadh : A court in the Saudi capital Riyadh has sentenced a father to eight years in jail and 700 lashes for beating his daughter Yara, seven, to death.

Yara died last year from the violence inflicted upon her a few hours before Eid Al Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, one of the most auspicious occasions for celebrations by children in the Islamic world.

“The family conflicts between me and my former husband had led to our separation,” Yara’s mother said. “Yara moved in with me and I took care of her until she reached seven. Her father refused to allow her to live with me and three months ago, she went to live with him in Riyadh as per the regulations. She did not wish to move in with him, and she was very unhappy,” the mother told Al Watan, a Saudi daily, in October.

According to official reports, Yara was beaten up by a hose and a cane on the day of her death.

“He used a hose that he snatched from the air-conditioning unit and beat her all over her body,” the mother said. “He started beating her simply because she told him that she did not love him. The fatal blow occurred when he hit her hard on the head. He was furious and locked her inside a room. She burst into tears and had an uncontrollable crying fit. When he unlocked the room, he noticed she was in a bad condition and drove her to hospital. However, she died on the way.”

The father reportedly attributed the beating to his wish to “educate” her. A lab test proved the father was not on drugs.

Social media users said they were shocked by the savage violence inflicted on a seven-year-old girl.

“This is a most heinous crime and the criminal should be severely punished,” Abu Nawas said.

According to Noora, the legal action should be severe.

“People spend the day before Eid praying and supplicating God, and this criminal used it to kill his innocent daughter,” she said.

Another user, writing under the moniker of Father, said that he was appalled by the crime.

“Some hearts have hardened beyond hope for repair and some people have turned into evil forces devoid of feelings and emotions,” he posted. “May God grant Yara eternal peace and may this criminal be punished severely,” he said.