Boy found chained to remain at centre till full rehabilitation

The boy was moved to the centre after medical tests at Al Qasimi Hospital. “We cannot determine his condition fully until he is properly evaluated by a psychiatrist and social workers,” said Amal bin Jarash Al Suwaidi, Director of the centre.

He would be kept in the centre until he completes the rehabilitation programme, which would help him overcome the psychological scars he suffered due to his father’s alleged ill treatment.

Amal said when the police found him, he was tied with iron chains in the Arabic-style house in Al Sajjaa area. He had been chained and left alone in a dark room everyday for long intervals when his father went to work.

The 35-year-old father allegedly resorted to this step after neighbours complained that the boy had been disturbing them and doing mischief.

Amal said the comprehensive evaluation would determine the psychological and sociological impact of the father’s behaviour on his child. “We will try to help him to overcome the scars.”

She said people might judge the father harshly. “They should also feel sorry for him because of the conditions in which he had to bring up the child.”The father had to act the roles of the mother and father at the same time, since his wife does not live with them. After she left, he had been taking care of the boy and other children.

The boy and his mother are stateless and have no personal identification documents.

Amal revealed that that the man was illiterate and came from a poor background.

“We will keep the boy for a while, but I think he should be returned to his father’s custody because he was already not living with his mother.”

Neighbours called the police after hearing the child’s screams. Officers from Al Hera police station who rushed to the house found the child tied with chains and locked in a dark room.

The father was detained for some time on Monday but was freed on bail before being referred to the Sharjah Public Persecution.

amira@khaleejtimes.com