Abduction scare

PARENTS in the Kingdom, both Saudis and expatriates, have expressed concern following several high-profile kidnapping cases involving children in the country. The crimes have received great public attention and discussed extensively on social media websites, Al-Riyadh daily reported. Experts have called on parents to exercise caution when they go out with their children and have warned against leaving children unattended. Zaid Derees, a criminologist, said severe punishments should be given to kidnappers so others thinking of doing the same are deterred. In his opinion, swift punishments can go a long way in restoring a sense of security and safety in society. “The victim’s family will feel relieved when they see the kidnapper getting punished for his crime. It is important that malls, shops and streets have surveillance cameras to prevent potential kidnappings. Members of the public should use their smart phones and other devices to videotape or take pictures of any suspected kidnapping incident to help authorities track down and nab the perpetrator immediately,” he said. Abdullah Rabeeq, a legal researcher, said the Shariah protects everyone’s rights. Abduction of a child is a dangerous crime that can shake the pillars of any society and undermine peace, justice, safety and security. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment. (5:33). “There is no corruption on earth more heinous than kidnapping an innocent little child and making his parents go through the anguish of not knowing where their child is,” Rabeeq said. Psychiatrist Khloud Al-Hasnaan said a kidnapped child and, in many cases his family, will continue to suffer even after the ordeal is over. The child will be the one most affected and he or she may experience difficulty sleeping, anxiety and other indicators of psychological distress, which can last for many years. “Another effect is that the victim might develop a fear of hospitals or malls if he was kidnapped inside one of these places. The victim will never be able to get over the experience easily. Depressions, sadness, anxiety, sleep disorders, loss of appetite, fear, suicidal thoughts and tension are just some of the common symptoms that many victims of abduction tend to develop following the horrible experience,” she explained. Al-Hasnaan agreed that kidnappers, once proven guilty, must be punished immediately because such punishment alleviates the sufferings of the victims and their families.