A 5-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia died last year after being repeatedly raped and tortured by her father, who doubted the virginity of the small child.
Now a court is telling the father, Fayhan al-Ghamdi, that he is to spend only eight years behind bars because of a law that states fathers and husbands cannot be awarded the death sentence for murdering their children and wives.
These crimes are only punishable by five to 12 years in prison.
The girl, Lama, was admitted to the hospital in December 2011 with a crushed skull, broken ribs and a left arm and extensive bruising.
A social worker at the hospital said the girl’s back was broken and she had been raped “everywhere.”
She died several months later.
Ghamdi will also receive 800 lashes and has been ordered to give his ex-wife, who is the girl’s mother, one million riyals ($270,000) in “blood money,” which is compensation for the next of kin under Islamic law.
But activists in Saudi Arabia and beyond are condemning the shocking sentence.
Khuloud al-Fahd, who was shocked by Ghamdi’s punishment, said, “A few years ago, two burglars stole two sheep and were sentenced to five years in prison and lashes. How can a father who killed his daughter be condemned to such a light sentence?”
Talk about gross injustice. May little Lama rest in peace.
SOURCE: Buzzfeed | PHOTO CREDIT: CNN
