Saudi father ‘irons son’s genitals as punishment

A Saudi Arabian boy was sexually assaulted and he reported to his father but, rather than help him heal, the father used hot iron on his son's private part as punishment for something that wasn't his fault.

The father later went to a Saudi psychologist to seek help. Dr Hussain Al Shamarani said he was approached by the boy's father after he has ironed the boy's genitals. He said the father genuinely believed he had done the right thing. The psychologist claimed the man put a hot iron on his son’s genitals after he told him that a group of teenagers sexually abused him. Dr Al Shamarani then shared the tragic case online to show how sex abuse victims in the country are being treated.

"This man came to ask for my advice, not knowing that his action had already done more damage to the child’s health and mental well-being," Dr Hussain said.
"There are so many similar cases, where parents resort to punishing a child after an assault or simply choose not to come forward to get them help they truly need in the wake of such incidents."
Soon after the psychologist tweeted the case, people condemned the father’s actions.
One Twitter user wrote: "Ignorance is catastrophic. This father knows he won’t be punished for his actions. This is why similar incidents will always recur."
Some called for the authorities to take action and bring in hotlines to professionally deal with similar cases