JEDDAH — The physical abuse of disabled children at the Jeddah Rehabilitation Center was occurring long before the abuse case of a young handicapped child at the center was revealed, Al-Hayat newspaper reported. During the investigations into the case, it was revealed that two Indian workers at the center had previously been accused of and punished for abusing two other disabled residents. According to the investigation report, one of the Indian workers hit a disabled child in his face and stomach while the second worker punished a second handicapped child with a stick. Sources revealed that the workers were convicted and sentenced for their actions. The information regarding the two Indian workers was revealed only after a father filed a case of abuse on behalf of his son Majed Al-Shami. Abdullah Al-Tawi, director of social affairs in Makkah province, said though Al-Shami was physically abused, the Department of Social Affairs concluded it was not by the guards or supervisors, but another handicapped patient. Al-Tawi insisted his department was committed to punishing anyone who would inflict harm on the disabled. He also said the workers at the center were highly qualified and they were giving utmost care to the disabled children. After the Al-Shami case was closed, Faiz Al-Ghamdi filed a case that claimed his mentally handicapped son Mohammed was also being abused at the center. He said whenever he visited his son at the center, he would notice marks on his body, but was always told that he had fallen down and hurt himself. “At one time the marks of beating were very clear on my son's body. I immediately informed the police, who turned over the case to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution (BIP),” he said. Al-Ghamdi said the Department of Social Affairs has not taken any action to punish those who abused his son. “The center only planted surveillance cameras after I had complained about my son's treatment,” he said. Al-Ghamdi said the BIP's investigations proved foreign workers at the center were negligent. He recalled that about a week ago his son was beaten again and when he complained to the center's administration, his complaint was ignored.
