Theorists and laymen differ over definition of the concept whether an individual is the responsibility or property of the state or the property of the individual himself, his family or any other party.
The controversy is the result of the different interpretations of the state. If we agree that the state is not only the government, but also the people and the leadership, which ultimately means that the state is a comprehensive entity that contains and owns everything relevant to the nation, then the individual will be part of the state property.
By this we mean that the state is responsible for the safety, security and welfare of the individual. There is no contradiction in this as far as personal freedom is concerned. But we all know that your freedom ends where others’ freedom begins. This implies that an individual citizen should respect the law, which organizes his life.
This leads us to the role of the Social Development Ministry regarding a strange phenomenon, which is against our faith, the law and traditions, not to mention logic and common sense.
A video clip shows one child asking his younger brother: “Which sports club do you support?" The kid answers: “Al-Ahli Club.” Then the older child, who was filming the video, starts hammering his kid brother’s head. The kid is almost six-years-old. The beating scene makes everybody cry.
Why the beating? We should all ask ourselves this question. Whatever are the reasons, the beating is unjustified. But this is not the whole story because there are other disgusting scenes in which some people burn an animal, or slaughter animals in mass or beat their children.
The ministry began an investigation and has succeeded in locating the house where the beating scene was filmed. The father was surprised because he was unaware of what is going on in his house. After the ministry’s announcement that it will refer the case to the general attorney, some people objected and said that the ministry had no right to interfere and show us how to raise our children.
I would like to tell these people that the ministry is one of the state components and it doesn’t force us how to raise our children. But if we raise them in a wrong way, it is the right of the state to advise and direct us, and if we don’t reciprocate, then it has to practice its right in protecting its subjects.
In this case, the victim is a powerless kid who doesn’t know how to protect himself or report to the police, or even to tell his parents.
Being this is the case, who will protect him from this abuse? It is the state for sure.
These people will not object to the destruction of public properties by some unruly mob, but when it comes to assaulting an innocent child, they start to talk about family, parenthood, dignity and other empty convictions.
Fighting injustice is not new to us as Muslims and Arabs. History tells that that when any man assaults or harasses his younger brothers, the tribe or the family would intervene to stop the aggression and protect the weak. That was in the past, but today, we are in the 21st century and we have laws, a state and human rights.
I don’t know what will be the sentence but the whole thing is up to the court and the family of the victim. We don’t want to make things worse. Some sympathizers have called for severe punishment against the aggressor, but any harsh punishment will have far-reaching consequences, especially in our society, which sometimes lacks empathy.
I am thankful to the ministry for its prompt action. When parents are incompetent in raising their children and in protecting them, this means that the state as an entity has every right to act and fight these deviations and flaws in our society.
The controversy is the result of the different interpretations of the state. If we agree that the state is not only the government, but also the people and the leadership, which ultimately means that the state is a comprehensive entity that contains and owns everything relevant to the nation, then the individual will be part of the state property.
By this we mean that the state is responsible for the safety, security and welfare of the individual. There is no contradiction in this as far as personal freedom is concerned. But we all know that your freedom ends where others’ freedom begins. This implies that an individual citizen should respect the law, which organizes his life.
This leads us to the role of the Social Development Ministry regarding a strange phenomenon, which is against our faith, the law and traditions, not to mention logic and common sense.
A video clip shows one child asking his younger brother: “Which sports club do you support?" The kid answers: “Al-Ahli Club.” Then the older child, who was filming the video, starts hammering his kid brother’s head. The kid is almost six-years-old. The beating scene makes everybody cry.
Why the beating? We should all ask ourselves this question. Whatever are the reasons, the beating is unjustified. But this is not the whole story because there are other disgusting scenes in which some people burn an animal, or slaughter animals in mass or beat their children.
The ministry began an investigation and has succeeded in locating the house where the beating scene was filmed. The father was surprised because he was unaware of what is going on in his house. After the ministry’s announcement that it will refer the case to the general attorney, some people objected and said that the ministry had no right to interfere and show us how to raise our children.
I would like to tell these people that the ministry is one of the state components and it doesn’t force us how to raise our children. But if we raise them in a wrong way, it is the right of the state to advise and direct us, and if we don’t reciprocate, then it has to practice its right in protecting its subjects.
In this case, the victim is a powerless kid who doesn’t know how to protect himself or report to the police, or even to tell his parents.
Being this is the case, who will protect him from this abuse? It is the state for sure.
These people will not object to the destruction of public properties by some unruly mob, but when it comes to assaulting an innocent child, they start to talk about family, parenthood, dignity and other empty convictions.
Fighting injustice is not new to us as Muslims and Arabs. History tells that that when any man assaults or harasses his younger brothers, the tribe or the family would intervene to stop the aggression and protect the weak. That was in the past, but today, we are in the 21st century and we have laws, a state and human rights.
I don’t know what will be the sentence but the whole thing is up to the court and the family of the victim. We don’t want to make things worse. Some sympathizers have called for severe punishment against the aggressor, but any harsh punishment will have far-reaching consequences, especially in our society, which sometimes lacks empathy.
I am thankful to the ministry for its prompt action. When parents are incompetent in raising their children and in protecting them, this means that the state as an entity has every right to act and fight these deviations and flaws in our society.
