JEDDAH, 1 February 2006 — Authorities in Taif are searching for a man for allegedly breaking the nose of his wife for beating up his daughter from a previous marriage. Six-year-old Rahaf spent six days in hospital in November after being beaten by her stepmother.
The woman’s son from a previous marriage admitted his mother Monday night to King Faisal Hospital in Taif, a hospital spokesman told Arab News yesterday.
“The bleeding was stopped and her nose was cast (in a splint) then she left the hospital with her son an hour later,” the spokesman said, who asked not to be identified by name.
Al-Salama Police Department in Taif is handling the case and searching for the father for questioning.
On Nov. 20, Rahaf’s teachers admitted her to King Faisal Hospital after discovering slashes on her back. Taif authorities said that the father refused to press charges against his wife, Rahaf’s stepmother.
Al-Jowhara Al-Angari, head of the Family and Child Cases Committee that became involved in the case, said in November that the father said his wife was justified in the abuse because Rahaf wet her bed.
Rahaf’s biological mother, who does not have custody rights, had visited her daughter in the hospital at the time. According to hospital officials, the father attacked his ex-wife at the hospital. Police had to be called to remove both parents.
Rahaf was released on Nov. 25 into the custody of her father’s uncle after six days in hospital.
According to current laws regarding domestic abuse, authorities do not intervene if a suspected victim of domestic abuse is in a hospital for less than 21 days.
