Father arrested for electric shock torture of son, say UAE police

Accused's wife used her phone to secretly film her husband allegedly forcing the boy, 12, to sit in a chair and then attaching electric wires to his body.

SHARJAH // A man has been arrested for allegedly torturing his 12-year-old son by giving him electric shocks.

Police said the Asian man's wife used her phone to secretly film her husband forcing the boy to sit in a chair and then attaching electric wires to his body.

The director of child's rights at Sharjah Social Services Centre, Ahmed Ibrahim Al Tartour, said as soon as staff were made aware of the incident they went to the family's home with Sharjah Police, who arrested the father.

The boy, together with his sister and mother, are now living in Sharjah's Qawarir women's shelter, said Nadia Mohammed, a social worker with the shelter.

"They will stay with us until all legal procedures are complete and it's safe for them to return to their home," she said.

The man's case has been referred to prosecutors.

Mr Tartour urged anyone who suffers domestic violence to get in touch with the centre.

"Violence against children is a serious crime, and the UAE, as well as international law, punishes domestic abusers and also protects the rights of children," he said.

The Sharjah shelter was founded in 2011 after a decree by the emirate's executive council. It was named Qawarir after the Quranic word used to urge men to treat their wives, sisters and mothers with love.

Mariam Ahmed Al Hamadi, the shelter's director general, said: "These women are very sensitive and since they have trusted us to stay here we have to ensure that we keep this trust."