Prayers for the victim
I cannot believe people like these — who would sexually assault and murder a child — exist in our community (‘Body of missing boy found in Dubai’, Gulf News, May 23)! My prayers are with the boy’s family, who are now perhaps not only devastated by his death, but also by the way he was murdered. I hope they decide the proper punishment for the criminal as soon as possible.
From Mr Hamad Al Moussalli
Dubai
Facebook comment
Brutal attack on a child
This is shocking to hear. It is terribly sad that the little boy was sexually assaulted before being mercilessly strangled to death by a friend of his father. It is a shame that someone who should have loved the boy like his own son, did something this brutal and painful to him. The man deserves to be given tough punishment for his crime, as he betrayed the trust and friendship of the victim’s father. He should be sentenced to life in prison.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Horrible people
It’s extremely sad and heartbreaking news. May God give strength to the family to bear this loss. Filthy people still exist, and this poor boy lost his life.
From Ms Romi S. Khan
Dubai
Facebook comment
Keep eyes open
Parents, please keep your eyes open! Paedophilia and child sexual abuse are common among members of the family or family friends/extended relatives. According to the US Department of Justice, an estimated 60 per cent of perpetrators of sexual abuse are known to the child but are not family members, such as family friends, acquaintances. Such sad news, rest in peace, little boy.
From Ms Hazel Ali Hayek
Auckland, New Zealand
Facebook comment
Never heard that before
Really, Ms Hazel Ali Hayek? Family members would do such a thing to their own blood? That’s the first time I’m hearing about it.
From Mr Ajmal Abdul Rahman
UAE
Facebook comment
Kept quiet
It’s the first time you have heard about it, Mr Ajmal Abdul Rahman, because of the shame the victim feels. Sexual assaults sadly go unreported from time to time, around the world.
From Ms Gabi Pezo
Dubai
Facebook comment
He destroyed a life
Life that is gone cannot be returned. May God bless his parents with patience. The person who did it should be punished enough to stop others from doing this again in the future. He destroyed a life and now his life should also be ruined.
From Mr Naznin Bhalli
UAE
Facebook comment
Proper supervision
This is so unfortunate, but nobody is seeing the parental negligence here. Why are children, like this boy, always playing outside without any adult supervision? I have seen little girls going to grocery stores by themselves, and I always think: “Why am I seeing this as a wrong and dangerous practice, but their parents are not?”
From Ms Nadiya H.
UAE
Facebook comment
Leaving a child with a criminal
I agree with you, Ms Nadiya H. And, according to the investigation, the man had a criminal record earlier. How can a parent leave their child with a friend who had a criminal record before?
From Ms Annie Baig
UAE
Facebook comment
Unsuspecting parents
This conversation sounds like people are trying to victimise the victim. There are two victims in this case: the poor little boy and the family who are still dealing with the great sorrow! I couldn’t agree more that children should be supervised by adults, but when they weren’t, it doesn’t mean the parents were okay with the violence! Please do not try to victimise the victims, especially because this is happening to children. Right now, it sounds like we’re trying to get less punishment for the rapist. Besides, the perpetrator is one of the closest friends of the family. I’m sure they were not suspecting him.
From Ms Dee Dee
UAE
Facebook comment
Don’t know the circumstances
It’s unfair to drag the parents into this. Honestly, you do not know the circumstances that led to the boy being alone. Anyone could have a full-time nanny who might do the same thing or there could be financial issues forcing both parents to work. The reality is that you cannot expect a parent to be around the child 24/7. Rest in peace to the little boy. May God give his loved ones the strength to get through this.
From Mr Melvin Andrews
UAE
Facebook comment
Mingle and learn
The special report on autism was indeed heart-rending (‘The reality of living with autism’, Gulf News, May 22). The message given by Alex Loveday, a UAE resident with autism in the report, was so touching. We have to make them feel welcome and treat them with love and respect because they didn’t choose to be like this.
I am an educationist by profession and have seen many cases of autism and even interacted with autistic children very closely. Last year, we had organised a trip from our school to a special needs school in Sharjah. A few students from grade two had prepared songs, games and goodie bags for the children. They mingled with them, played games and sang many songs. It was a wonderful experience for each one of them. I think this is the best way to create awareness in society about autism. If schools take such initiatives and organise such trips, I am sure children will be much more aware about autism and understand that these children are different, but unique and equally important members of our society.
From Ms Shikha Dixit
Sharjah
Teaching kitchen skills helps later on
There is no harm in allowing children to learn or practice their skills in the kitchen, even if it goes beyond their normal studies (‘Facebook debate: Getting children into the kitchen’, Gulf News, May 22). This would definitely help them immensely when they move out of their parents’ home or take up a job later. I recall, I would very minutely observe my mother preparing an omelette or tea for me in the kitchen when I was just ten years old. Later, during my service tenure, this observation helped me a lot. I did not have to depend upon my maid when she would take a day off or when she wouldn’t turn up. A passion for cooking or even learning to cook, would undoubtedly generate a sense of self-confidence in children and make them self-reliant eventually.
From Dr Shiben Krishen Raina
Ajman
Numbers hard to cope with
I don’t feel too much for these people trying to illegally cross from France to the UK (‘Dignity only in death for migrants at France’s Calais ‘Jungle’, Gulf News, May 22). They keep coming in such huge numbers like a swarm of bees headed for a honey cache to a continent already struggling to cope with undocumented immigrants. To what end? They brought the indignity upon themselves. It also can’t be denied that when Europe takes them in, some of them – definitely not the majority, but some – bring their radical ideologies to this free world and start committing terror.
From Mr Takudzwa Kamwoto
Cape Town, South Africa
Facebook comment
A team for progress
It was a foregone conclusion that after the ‘great escape’ of Shashank Manohar, the former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, it would be Anurag Thakur, who would succeed him (‘Thakur appointed BCCI president’, Gulf News, May 23). The good news is that Ajay Shirke, known for his bold acts, would be the new secretary.
Let us hope, unlike Manohar, that this new and improved team will take bold steps to implement the Lodha Committee recommendations and take Indian cricket to greater heights. India has the dynamic
Virat Kohli, who, as captain and a performing player, is leading from the front.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Large shift in Kerala
The landslide victory of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance headed by the Communist Part of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) by 91 members in the Indian state of Kerala, is a clear verdict against the Congress-led government headed by Oommen Chandy (‘Road ahead not easy for new Kerala CM, Vijayan’, Gulf News, May 23). The people of Kerala were fed up with the scams and corruption related to solar energy, bars and land deals that surfaced during Oommen Chandy’s government rule. They have opted for qualitative change. The literate state has always opted for clean governance in the elections. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with its alliance, secured 15 per cent of the vote share and O. Rajagopal, a BJP candidate, was elected for the first time, creating history in Kerala’s assembly. This is a clear indication that people are opting for a third front in the state.
Now, the 92-year-old V. S. Achuthanandan, who was the star campaigner for the election, is being side-lined and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has given the role to Achuthanandan as Kerala’s Fidel Castro, and elevated Pinarayi Vijayan as Chief Minister. Achuthandan said he will be the watchman for the people of Kerala. The new government should conduct an inquiry into the land deals and corruption charges against the United Democratic Front (UDF) ministers. Those who are responsible should be held accountable.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
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