Family shuns 8 year old daughter after being raped by 4 youths

[Dion]

PHOENIX - Lured by promises of chewing gum then allegedly raped in a shed by four boys barely older than her, an 8-year-old Liberian girl is now in foster care and living with strangers after being shunned by her family.

A 14-year-old boy was charged Wednesday as an adult with two counts of sexual assault and kidnapping, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said. He appeared in court Thursday and was being held without bond.

The other boys — ages 9, 10, and 13 — were charged as juveniles with sexual assault. The 10- and 13-year-old boys also were charged with kidnapping, the office said Thursday.

Police say the girl's father told a police officer and a Child Protective Services worker that he doesn't want her anymore.

But experts who study the developing world say the parents' reaction highlights the struggles of many women around the globe.

"They're always being blamed for everything," said Monica Westin, founder of World of Hope International, which promotes human rights. "It's always the girl's fault. There's no gender equality."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32122954...me_and_courts/

[BlackArcher101]

I don't think I'll ever understand that, no matter how hard I try.

[Regulator75]

Classy parents. Well done.

[jayswin]

Why do some people in some cultures act like animals. Certain animals shun their young in certain cases, but that's because they're animals. Humans should be above that.

[Dion]

It's a sad day when the female gender gets blamed for a rape they did not cause.

[dissentowner]

Glad she is not in their care anymore, parents like that do not deserve children and she will probably be raised better then she would have been with her idiot real parents. WTF is wrong with some people???

[Resolute 14]

The ironic part of this attitude is that they don't want the girl to "shame the family name". And now they've done exactly that. I'm betting that entire family is forced to move somewhere else within a year because of the shame they brought onto themselves. Hopefully the little girl can find a better situation, as unlikely as that may be in foster care.

[Jayems]

Instead of putting an ass whoopin of epic proportions on the rapers, they abandon the kid.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Glad she is not in their care anymore, parents like that do not deserve children and she will probably be raised better then she would have been with her idiot real parents. WTF is wrong with some people???

I was thinking the same thing. Probably best they find her another home and family to live with. It's bad enough that an 8 year old girl has endure the horror and trama of a rape, but to be shunned by her own family must be devistating. She going to need some serious conseling to mve past this.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Dion

It's a sad day when the female gender gets blamed for a rape they did not cause.

Glad she is not in their care anymore, parents like that do not deserve children and she will probably be raised better then she would have been with her idiot real parents. WTF is wrong with some people???

The ironic part of this attitude is that they don't want the girl to "shame the family name". And now they've done exactly that. I'm betting that entire family is forced to move somewhere else within a year because of the shame they brought onto themselves. Hopefully the little girl can find a better situation, as unlikely as that may be in foster care.

Instead of putting an ass whoopin of epic proportions on the rapers, they abandon the kid.

20% of Liberians are Islamic, and this appears pretty consistent with that belief system.

Yes, I did just "say it".

No I don't want a flame-war.

I do have references/links lined up if this "goes there."

Its a valid statement.

[FLAMESRULE]

Trad, you're 100% right, lets call it what it is and thats the utter brutality of religion. Same thing for that honour killing of the young sisters in Kingston. Religion is the
scourge of mankind.

As a parent how you could completely abandon YOUR child becuase of some make believe story in a book is unbelievable. No matter how hard I try I cant comprehend this. It sounds awful but I have much more compassion to the kids who raped the girl than the parents. They are kids as well. The parents should be tarred and feathered.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FLAMESRULE

Trad, you're 100% right, lets call it what it is and thats the utter brutality of religion. Same thing for that honour killing of the young sisters in Kingston. Religion is the scourge of mankind.

It's the religous fanatics that are the scourage of mankind

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Dion

It's the religous fanatics that are the scourage of mankind

And if the religion at its basic level is by nature fanatical/extreme?

Sorry, I'd like to think I'm researched, but I'm just a dood with less time to spend on it than I'd like.

Is there, in fact, a sect of Islam that would not call for this?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

And if the religion at its basic level is by nature fanatical/extreme?

Sorry, I'd like to think I'm researched, but I'm just a dood with less time to spend on it than I'd like.

Is there, in fact, a sect of Islam that would not call for this?

I don't want to take this thread off topic into another religious debate. It's also a topic I try to avoid.

My mistake for making any responses

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Dion

I don't want to take this thread off topic into another religious debate. It's also a topic I try to avoid.

My mistake for making any responses

Yeah, I agree and feel that. I wish it wasn't so hard to debate.

FWIW, my last post was an honest question looking for education and not a challenge.

[Antithesis]

From what I have learned from my students and my own limited research, Trad, the Qu'ran states in multiple places that women are the equals of men, that they are two different parts that complement each other and that punishment for things such as rape should be no different for each gender.

That being said, I believe to the utmost that any perversion of those teachings (such as what happened here - clearly) are an example of a group taking the teachings of a religion and perverting it to suit their needs.

In nearly all of my experiences - certainly no less a percentage than with non-Muslims - I have found Muslim men and women to be some of the most gentle, respectful and kind individuals I know.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

From what I have learned from my students and my own limited research, Trad, the Qu'ran states in multiple places that women are the equals of men, that they are two different parts that complement each other and that punishment for things such as rape should be no different for each gender.

That being said, I believe to the utmost that any perversion of those teachings (such as what happened here - clearly) are an example of a group taking the teachings of a religion and perverting it to suit their needs.

In nearly all of my experiences - certainly no less a percentage than with non-Muslims - I have found Muslim men and women to be some of the most gentle, respectful and kind individuals I know.

Then what is the deal with the men forcing the women to dress the way they do because the men cannot control themselves???? WTF???

"A victim of rape every minute somewhere in the world. Why? No one to blame but herself. She displayed her beauty to the entire world. She dagraded herself by being an object of sexual desire and thus becoming vulnerable to man who looks at her for gratification of his sexual urge..." Sheik Faiz Mohamad, speech at Bankstown Town Hall, Sydney, Australia, on March 18th 2005. Source: " Veiled threat an insult to all." by Miranda Devine, The Sun Herald April 24, 2005,

This quote bugs me.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Yeah, I agree and feel that. I wish it wasn't so hard to debate.

FWIW, my last post was an honest question looking for education and not a challenge.

No problem. I knew it was an honest question

[Antithesis]

What you are referring to (covering up) for a woman is an expression of a part of their beliefs that requires modesty of both men and women who are Muslims. It is expected of them when they are with others who are not a part of their family, and in many senses I can see it being not particularly different than the mores we have in the Western World relating to women and their dress.

Just because someone may be considered 'equal' does not necessarily mean 'treated the same in every single way'. As well, I can see where discomfort from us in the West might come from the practice of covering up, but I've not really experienced many times when girls are uncomfortable with the process of hijab. In addition, this is not a requirement that all females have; I teach many Muslim females who dress in much the same way as their born-in-Canada counterparts.

As for your quote, I don't see how it's any less an example of someone perverting a set of beliefs for their purpose. There are crazies that adhere to each religion - it's just that Muslims get more play right now, in my opinion. Many of the young men and women I speak with on a regular basis - these are 12-14 year olds - get just as upset about things like this as you and I do - perhaps even more so - as they know it makes them look bad.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

What you are referring to (covering up) for a woman is an expression of a part of their beliefs that requires modesty of both men and women who are Muslims. It is expected of them when they are with others who are not a part of their family, and in many senses I can see it being not particularly different than the mores we have in the Western World relating to women and their dress.

Just because someone may be considered 'equal' does not necessarily mean 'treated the same in every single way'. As well, I can see where discomfort from us in the West might come from the practice of covering up, but I've not really experienced many times when girls are uncomfortable with the process of hijab. In addition, this is not a requirement that all females have; I teach many Muslim females who dress in much the same way as their born-in-Canada counterparts.

As for your quote, I don't see how it's any less an example of someone perverting a set of beliefs for their purpose. There are crazies that adhere to each religion - it's just that Muslims get more play right now, in my opinion. Many of the young men and women I speak with on a regular basis - these are 12-14 year olds - get just as upset about things like this as you and I do - perhaps even more so - as they know it makes them look bad.

Bolded is what I was looking for. Cheers!