The deputy of Egypt’s al-Azhar, the largest Muslim beacon, called on Sunday for anyone found guilty of molesting child to receive the death penalty, he said to state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram following recent news about the rape on a 20-month-old girl in Daqahlia governorate.
“Child rape is punishable by death. Such crimes are alien to Egypt’s culture and society, and should be despised by everyone. They represent the worst form of terrorism,” Abbas Shouman, the deputy to al-Azhar’s Grand Sheikh, said on Sunday.
He added that child rape is no less dangerous than bombings and other forms of violence.
Last month, Daqahlia security department was notified by the mother of a toddler that a 35-year-old man had abducted and raped her daughter, causing her severe vaginal bleeding.
“My daughter can’t utter the words mama and papa yet and all of this has happened to her. My heart is burning and there’s nothing I can do for her,” the mother said previously.
The girl was taken to Belqas hospital for medical care and surgery, as she was in critical condition. A police report was filed and sent to the prosecution for investigation.
The suspect was arrested while he was trying to escape. He admitted to committing the crime. He said that he took her as she was playing in front of her house. He removed her diaper before raping her, and ran away when he found her bleeding.
"Even execution is not enough,” said the child’s grandfather.
The incident has angered the local community. Residents of the village attempted to burn the defendant's house down. Many on social media have demanded nothing less than death for this man.
The Daqahlia branch of the National Council of Women issued a statement calling for the maximum penalty against the defendant in addition to holding a meeting to discuss providing aid to the child and her family.
