Shahd Alhamdan

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Dareen Khayat, the 23-year-old girl who was stabbed by a young man who tried to harass her, has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit, according to her aunt, Raha Khayat.



“Dareen’s health is somewhat stable now. However, her psychological health is poor as is the family’s morale,” said the elderly Khayat.



The assailant, who was arrested by police, repeatedly stabbed Dareen with a box cutter, damaging a vein in her neck and the nerve controlling her tongue.



Doctors have told the family that they will need to wait 6 to 9 months before they can say if normal function will return to the nerve that controls her vocal cords, stomach and other organs.



“Doctors have not decided when Dareen can leave the hospital and she is forbidden to talk for extended periods of time,” she said.



According to Ahmed Darwish, a relative of the girl, Dareen’s hospital report was sent to Jeddah Police on Thursday and the assailant has been transferred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution.



Dareen, a college student, was standing outside a café on the Jeddah Corniche on March 23. She was with several family members who went into the café to buy coffee while she stood outside to take a picture in front of the sea.



In the few minutes she was alone, the assailant approached and began harassing her. When she rebuffed his improper advances, he pushed her to the ground and stabbed her in the back, neck, face and shoulder. The police arrived at the location five minutes later.



Abdullah Al-Sharbini, who was roller blading in the area, followed the man and took a picture of him and his car. The photo spread on social media and prompted public outrage.