Jeddah, July 09: There is need to enact stringent penal laws against rapists and sexual perverts, lawyers, religious scholars, psychologists and victims of molestation have told Arab News.
They noted that incidents of rape and molestation, of which most victims are minors, are increasing alarmingly in Saudi society. It has become a phenomenon with the potential to threaten the very fabric of society and undermine its security, they pointed out.
Lawyer Omar Al-Khouli noted that there is no specific law to deal with cases of molestation and rape in the Kingdom. He called for enacting a law with stringent provisions to curb such immoral crimes.
Molestation comes under Ta’zir crimes, for which a lighter punishment is awarded. “The punishment includes reprimanding or taking a pledge not to repeat the crime or awarding jail terms of up to 10 years,” he said, calling for tougher laws.
Al-Khouli said that there should be a difference in the penalty given to those who rape minors and those who molest adults. “The punishment against those who are convicted of raping or molesting a little girl or boy must be tougher than those who target adults,” he said, noting that minors are generally not able to defend themselves.
Al-Khouli is of the view that the death penalty should be given only to repeat offenders. “The first and foremost thing to curb sexual assault is to enact stringent laws. Proper awareness should be raised among family members to protect their children from such abuse,” he said.
On his part, Sheikh Hassan Safar said currently it is the judge who decides the punishment for those convicted of rape and molestation. “The judge would examine all the aspects of the case, including the mental health of the accused or whether they had a sound upbringing before passing sentence,” he said, adding that awarding the death penalty would act as a deterrent.
He underscored the need for carrying out a massive public campaign against crimes of rape and molestation with the participation of imams, university professors, schoolteachers and the general public.
Moram Al-Hajiri, a victim of molestation in her childhood, somehow managed to overcome the mental anguish that she had experienced for a long time. She was able to lead a normal life after deliberately trying to avoid any recollection of the nightmarish experience. However, after she got married and became a mother, she now fears for the safety of her child.
Even the presence of her relatives and others at the house is a matter of concern for her. She is afraid that any one of them could harm her child just like she was abused.
“I am very careful not to allow my child to remain with my maid or driver even for half an hour. It is unbearable for me to leave my child in the custody of my mother if there are any visitors with her,” she said, recalling how she was molested when she was just four.
Muhammad Al-Harithy, another victim of molestation, said he has problem interacting with others. “I cannot remain alone in a closed environment, especially elevators, as I fear the dark. I am reminded of the painful memory of being molested by a neighbor when I was stuck in an elevator due to a power outage. I thought that the neighbor would help me get out, but he molested me instead,” he said.
It is incorrect to perceive that only minors are victims of rape and molestation. Twenty-nine-year-old Hind Bathaqeef was molested by her boss on her first day at a new job.
“After this bitter experience, I am afraid of interacting with any of my superiors. It is unbearable for me to remain with another person in a single room or even in a closed meeting,” she said.
All victims were unanimous in their call to introduce stringent punitive measures against rapists and those involved in sexual assault, including the death sentence. Ahmad Othman, former director of a school, noted that there were cases of sexual assault involving senior and intermediate school students and some teachers as well.
Psychologist Adel Abdul Aziz told Arab News that acts of molestation and rape have a serious psychological impact on child victims. “Children aged between six and 14 are more likely to become victims of sexual assault. It could cause serious ramifications in the victim’s life. The child may lose self-confidence and become suspicious of others. It hampers the victim’s potential and capability to learn or work,” he said.
According to Abdul Aziz, this would also have a negative impact on the victim’s family life. “Sometimes, they may not have a happy married life. They may also be constantly fearful and be overprotective of their children,” he said, warning that victims could also contract AIDS.
–Agencies