The Malaysian couple in Sweden who were arrested in December 2013 for hitting their children because they didn’t perform their prayers, have finally been charged in the Solna district court in Stockholm on Monday with gross violation of their children’s integrity.
The couple, Azizul Raheem Awaluddin and Shalwati Nurshal have been charged for hitting their four children on several occasions, dating from Sept 15 2010 until Dec 2013.
However, the court document did not state why the children were hit, or whether the beatings were for religious reasons.
Also, the children were not only hit on their hands, as reported previously. Among the offences the couple had committed include leaving physical marks on the children using objects like hanger, leather belt and cane, besides using their own bare hands.
According to the charge sheets, Norshal mistreated Ammar, aged 12, by hitting him with a leather belt on his legs and on the back during the period Sept 2011 to June 2012, causing physical pain and redness.
At one point in 2013, she also mistreated Adam, aged 11, by hitting him on the back, causing pain and soreness. During the same period, she also hit him with a hanger.
Norshal had also used a rug beater, hanger and cane on Arif, aged 7, during the period of March 2012 to 2013, when he was only six.
The school teacher, who was also a warden, has also been charged with hitting Aishah, 14, using a hanger and cane on her arm and back in 2013.
Other charges against Azizul Raheem include slapping Ammar on the back of his head, which caused his head to bang a plate on a table, forcing him to sit on the floor for eight hours in 2012, hitting Aishah on the legs and body, and for abusing his two other children.
Prosecution argued that every session has been part of the repeated violations of the children’s integrity and seriously damaged their self-esteem.
Earlier, the prosecution also wrote a request to the court to charge the couple on Monday, about 6pm, local time. Trial is expected to begin February 18 and would possibly run for 14 days.
In 1979, Sweden became the first country to ban corporal punishment against children under any circumstances, both at home and in school.
While the parents are being charged in court, their four children began their schooling session on Sunday in Kota Bharu. They had returned to Malaysia on February 2 and are now under the care of their aunt, Sharlena Makhzan, who is also a teacher.
Both Aishah and Amar have been registered at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Kala, while Adam and Arif at Sekolah Rendah Padang Kala.
