Parents Blame 8-Year-Old Victim of Alleged Rape

[anointedteacher]

Parents Blame 8-Year-Old Victim of Alleged Rape
Posted by Sheryl H. Salomon on Jul 23rd 2009 6:47PM

www.bvblackspin.com/2009/07/23/parents-blame-8-year-old-victim-of-alleged-rape/4#commentsInline



Just when you think you've heard all there is to hear about the horrors of child abuse and neglect in this country, there's this horrifying report: An eight-year-old girl is allegedly gang-raped by four boys -- one of them her cousin -- and then rejected by her parents for shaming them.

You heard me.

The victim hails from a Liberian enclave in Arizona, and all of the children involved are refugees. Her 23-year-old sister, who was supposedly babysitting when four boys attacked the youngster in a storage shed (pictured), told KTVK in Arizona, "She always bring trouble...I came to her and said it's not good for you to be following guys because you are still little." If the girl, who is now in foster care, were to come home, her sister says she would be scolded. "She's just bringing confusions among us," she said.

Meanwhile, the child's mother is denying that anything happened to her daughter, telling KTVK that no one touched her. The father told KTVK that he wants his daughter back, although the authorities dispute that claim. They say she had to be removed from the home because the family blames her.

Police say the boys, ranging in age from 9 to 14, lured the victim into the shed with chewing gum, held her down and sexually assaulted her. In a troubling development the eldest child is to be charged as an adult.

The family's reaction has been subject to a lot of speculation about cultural attitudes about rape in Liberia, a country that emerged from a bloody civil war in 2003 but is still suffering from an alarmingly high rate of sexual violence toward women and girls. However, Edwin Sele, the deputy ambassador of Liberia to the United States, responded to the incident by saying, "Having heard the story myself, I'm outraged. In Liberia, the family and law enforcement officers would be embracing the victim. To hear that the family is not doing that, that should be an isolated case."

Video of the family's reaction to the alleged crime is above. Take a look, if you can stomach it, and then join the discussion among BV members.

[stillfocused]

It's really sad. Because the young man that they are charging as an adult doesn't understand the severity of the consequences for his actions. They showed it briefly on the news last night..this young man did not go to school in his native country and barely speaks English. AT..I agree with you..I don't understand what a child is being put to shame for this act. The state of Arizona is something else when it comes to protecting children and the imprisonment of them at the same time. And they don't mind locking up young men and removing children from their homes and placing them in foster care; as I am seeing more African American children placed with Causican families. The harshness of the charge maybe due to the high rate of child neglect and child molesters who live in the region. With AZ being one of the most racism states in the country anything can happen in this case. Please pray for the state of AZ, it's officals, and those who reside in the state.

Be blessed all!!

[anointedteacher]

The child family are liberian refugees.... rape in comment to them and women and girls are blamed and are consider an embrassment to their families. The child must be removed from that family for protection. I hope and pray she is put into a good loving home. Those refugees are brainwashed in believing that females are second class and mistreat their girls and worship their sons.

The boys need to be disciplined, but not locked up, may be temporary removed from their home and counsel... they may not know how serious the crime they committed. Their culture made rape acceptable. The victim parent should be charge with neglect and emotional abuse... and should be taught the American culture, law and what is not acceptable in this country...

[stillfocused]

AT..for once we totally agree on something : ). I heard parents of both parties saying they want their child to come home. What makes it saddier is that because of the culutural differences and the lack of understanding of another country operates..there is an attitude within the fabric of our society that says..I know that I am in America now; but, I am going to hold onto the old ways and customs of my former country." This is really sad..the mother of the young man was shown falling out on televison..and the father of the little girl was shown saying that he wanted his daughter home.