COURTS are handing child molesters a licence to re-offend, by letting them off with soft sentences, a top Bahraini psychologist has warned.
Judges are being too soft on child sex abusers, putting others in danger, says Batelco Centre for Family Violence Victims president Dr Banna Bu Zaboon.
She was referring to two rulings in a week by the Supreme Criminal Appeal Court, in which child rapists had their jail time slashed to one-year suspended sentences.
The GDN reported last week that a convicted Bahraini sex offender, from Hamad Town, had a three-year jail sentence reduced to a one-year suspended sentence after his 14-year-old victim's father apparently forgave him for raping his son.
The second case, reported this week, was of a 37-year-old Bahraini, from Tashan, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in July last year.
He was jailed for three years by the High Criminal Court in December, but his sentence has been reduced by the Supreme Criminal Appeal Court after the boy's guardians "reconciled" with his abuser.
The suspended sentence means he can now walk free, but will go back to prison for one year if he repeats the offence within three years, in addition to facing charges for any new offence.
"No-one accepts this and this encourages abusers to go further and further because the laws are not strong enough," Dr Bu Zaboon told the GDN.
"The application of the law is too weak and this needs to be addressed. Also, the victims need to be referred for treatment. They can call us and we will fix an appointment."
She said these cases were not unusual because she knew of several similar rulings where the sentences handed out were too lenient.
Dr Bu Zaboon said she had raised this issue with Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa last year and he had agreed to study the issue and get back to her.
But she said she was still waiting for a reply.
The clinical psychologist called for victims of abuse to come to the centre for treatment because otherwise a high percentage of them will have sexual or life problems later on.
"These victims need treatment, they may not feel they need help now but they will in the long run," she said.
"On my TV show last week I was talking about how homosexuality started. It is usually because they have been sexually abused when they were young and with some lesbians also it's the same.
"I encourage the families to come and talk to us, we are not the police or court, we are just here to help."
The centre offers free psychological treatment to adult and child victims of abuse through play and individually designed courses.
Abused
"Last year I had a 10-year-old who was doing things with other boys and we found out he was abused before," said Dr Bu Zaboon.
"I have one case of a child in a nursery who behaved in a sexual way and we found it was because her mum and dad were having sex in the same room as her because they only have one room and the housemaid was sexually abusing her."
The centre is looking for committed professionals, administrators and other volunteers to help with its growing activities.
Those wishing to help should contact the centre on 17597777.
Victims of abuse can call the centre or the toll-free helpline (88801888) every day from 4pm to 8pm, except Fridays and Saturdays.
Calls are anonymous and confidential to protect all individuals in need of the facility.
becky@gdn.com.bh
