Family of murdered boy calls for death penalty

Sharjah/Dubai - The family of the eight-year-old boy, Obaida, has said they will not receive condolences in the UAE or Jordan.

The parents of a Jordanian boy who was allegedly raped and murdered are calling on the UAE to apply capital punishment on the culprit.

The family of the eight-year-old boy, Obaida, has said they will not receive condolences in the UAE or Jordan.

In Jordan, over 70 members of the child's family and tribe went to the area where the suspect is from, in an attempt to burn his house down.

The body of Obaida was found in Al Warqa area near Academic City road on Sunday, near a football field located near Al Mizhar and Al Warqa roundabout. The child was allegedly killed by his father's friend, identified as Nedelessa, a 48-year-old Jordanian. The boy was first reported missing on Saturday after he failed to return to his home in Sharjah Industrial Area No 8.

Hundreds of people in Sharjah rushed to Al Sahaba Mosque and Sharjah graveyard to attend the funeral. The father was seen very much disturbed even as crowds prayed for the child. Several residents have taken to social media calling for the public execution of the culprit, and for awareness campaigns in schools to teach students how to detect threats.

Also read: Missing Sharjah boy found dead in Dubai

(Photo: Obaida's residence at Al Nahda street, Sharjah. He was abducted from here)

"I cannot believe what happened to my son. I feel as if it's a nightmare," the child's mother Zainab told Khaleej Times. "I can still smell him and look at his bed and clothing, and hear him call me 'mum' when he returns from school. For the past three days I have been waiting for my son to come back so I can wake him up for school. I've left him for God and hope to meet him in paradise."

According to Zainab, the son was usually very careful and tells her where he goes. She noted that the culprit came to her husband's garage over a month ago and seemed to be targeting the child, and even offered to buy clothes and a scooter for him. "The day he went missing I told my husband that I feel that this man has taken my son, but my husband refused to believe me and asked what he'd do with a child. But I insisted and we called him, but his phone was switched off," she said. "An hour later, he replied that my son wasn't with him. My brother went to his home in the early hours and found him alone, but at that time my son was dead."

She added that all her family and fellow tribesmen back home are gathering to take revenge on the man.

"I want them to be patient and I want the UAE to bring justice for my son so that we can have some calm," she said.

Teachers and administrators of the child's school - Al Jeel Al Jaded in Sharjah - also conveyed their condolences, and noted that Obaida last week attended a lecture aimed at spreading awareness on child abuse and sexual harassment.

• UAE
• Dubai
• Sharjah