Mothers must always be respected

The ugly crime committed by a 40-year-old man who physically and psychologically abused his 90-year-old mother in Ras Al Khaimah has shocked the nation.

She was completely helpless, old, frail and ailing. All that she asked was for her son not to pour alcohol on his food, which sent him into a rage.

I never imagined that anyone was capable of committing such an ugly crime. Anyone with feelings and a conscience who heard the story was highly distressed.

The whole incident seems like a nightmare, and gives the impression that the monster who committed the crime was from outer space. For how is it conceivable that a human being is capable of hurting someone who brought him into this world?

No doubt it must be a ferocious animal that has nothing to do with our community, which respects humanity, despite differences of origin and ethnicity.

I wasn't able to continue listening to the news. I stopped my car at the side of the road and the world blackened in my eyes. Tears streamed down my face as I recalled the Quran's verses, and words of wisdom from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), who said that paradise can be found under the feet of mothers. I also remembered all the poems and songs written in praise of mothers.

One thought persisted in my mind: what human being is capable of such an atrocity?

This tragedy affirms the existence of a defect in the religious and moral aspects of the social value system.

Mothers have to be revered as their favours cannot be repaid, no matter what we do. No one can compensate a mother's compassion and kindness. At my age, and even as I fondly play with my grandchildren, I envy every man who can walk beside his mother and hold her hand or kiss it. I still sit in solitude, imagining my mother's hand going through what remains of my hair.

Undoubtedly, whoever attacks and mistreats his mother is a disturbed person who should be put in a psychiatric ward. Moreover, he must be punished publicly to prevent this from becoming a dangerous social phenomenon. This monster has to be rebuked openly.

At this very sad moment, I cannot help but remember the 90-year-old mother and her ungrateful son. The 40-year-old man is still in his prime, while she is surrounded by the thorns of a withered life.

Have tensions reached a degree in our community where some people have lost all their values and treat their mothers badly?

Betrayal

The woman who bore this child, nurtured and raised him, had hoped that one day, after she grew old and frail, he would be by her side. However, that was not to be for this poor lady, as her son turned into a merciless monster. Is the whole incident the result of drinking alcohol?

In the civilised world, people drink alcohol to forget their daily worries or to loosen up and then return to their families relaxed. However, others cannot hold their drink, and thus drinking becomes a malignant disease in their life.

The authorities should punish the criminal publicly, for him to be an example to whoever does not respect his mother. Publicising the incident through different media outlets is not enough to curb this animal-like evilness. Punishment is inevitable for the life giving human to be rest assured that justice will be done.

I hereby send a plea to Dr Hadef Jua'an Al Daheri, Minister of Justice, to refer this person to justice. The judicial system in the UAE is completely reliable and trustworthy; hence, no one will question the integrity or good judgment of our judges. This is an opportunity to restore mothers' rights, and to punish whoever tramples on traditions — in the context of treating parents and mothers with respect in particular.

Paradise is under the feet of mothers, but some people refuse to enter.

I would like to reassure all mothers in the UAE that they need not worry, as this is an isolated case.

Our community is still sound and sons remain devoted to their parents and treat them well.

Sons and daughters in our country are happy and content with their families, which live in peace, affection and harmony.

Dr Mohammad Abdullah Al Mutawa is a professor of sociology.