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A child who tortured and abused a cat, according to a video clip that was widely circulated on social media platforms, will undergo an evaluation to determine his mental condition, the Public Prosecution has confirmed.
The Public Prosecution stated that they received a report on the incident from the Muharraq Governorate Police Directorate.
The child was interrogated and confronted with the footage documenting the acts of animal torture, and the Social Development Ministry’s Child Protection Centre has been tasked with assessing the child’s social and psychological condition.
A report by the Child Protection Centre stated that the child’s behaviour alluded to a situation of endangerment, including violent and inappropriate conduct.
The report confirmed the child’s aggression and behavioural issues, along with the need for guidance, counselling, proper upbringing and increased supervision.
The matter was referred to the Judicial Committee for Childhood, who issued a decision to place the child under judicial probation for three months, during which a committee expert would prepare and submit a report on the child’s condition.
Additionally, the child will be required to attend a training and rehabilitation programme that would not interfere with his regular schooling.
Authorities have highlighted the critical role of parents in instilling proper values and principles in their children to prevent behaviour that contradicts sound instincts.
They also stressed the need for active parental supervision to protect children from delinquency or criminal behaviour, noting that parents could also bear legal responsibility for any violations committed by their children.
The GDN reported earlier this week that CCTV footage shared on Reddit showed a male in a blue shirt, black pants and grey slippers flinging a small kitten up and down a set of stairs at the entrance to a building in Muharraq.
Building resident Mohammed Yusuf was able to locate two of the four kittens in the litter and reported the incident to the police.
Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) chairman Mahmood Faraj confirmed the swift police response and thanked the authorities involved, including the Muharraq Police and its investigations department head Lieutenant Colonel Yousif Ahmed Al Malek, as well as Public Prosecutor Dr Ali bin Fadhel Al Buainain.
He praised the volunteers for their compassion and ongoing care, and reaffirmed the BSPCA’s commitment to protecting animals and supporting the enforcement of animal welfare laws.
Layla Alkhabbaz, who rescued the two kittens and nicknamed them Zeno and Tulip, told the GDN that their health was improving, although they remain traumatised by the incident.
“The black kitten, Zeno, is very scared and nervous around people and when I visited him, he was shaking,” she added.
“The calico, Tulip, is a little less scared and interacts, but then pulls back to her corner after some time.
“Fortunately, their health is improving and they are starting to eat and drink, but it will take time before they are back to normal.”
The two kittens are now amongst the nearly 70 cats that Ms Alkhabbaz is caring for and trying to rehome in the UK.
Separately, she is also caring for a third kitten who looks similar to Tulip and has had an old fracture in her leg.
“One of the followers of my Instagram account (@catspiritual) told me that she had saved this kitten from being kicked around by some boys in her neighbourhood, so I asked her to drop the kitten off at the vet, and I took over care for the calico,” Ms Alkhabbaz added.
“Unfortunately, she had an old fracture in her leg. Because of that, sadly her leg got infected and rotted. Sometimes, we have to amputate a leg to protect the cats so they don’t feel pain in their legs. The vet said she will stay at the clinic until she reaches 1.5kg (in weight) so she can have surgery.”
The case of the third kitten created some confusion online, with some believing that she was part of the litter that had been abused by the detained teenager; however Ms Alkhabbaz clarified that the two incidents were unrelated.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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