Khaberni - The media spokesperson for the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, Ra'fat Al-Zeitawi, said that the Council closely followed the video that was widely circulated on social media platforms, documenting the brutal physical assault on a young person with disabilities, an incident that caused shock and widespread outrage.
As reported by Al-Ghad newspaper, he clarified that the incident occurred within the premises of a cemetery in Irbid city, pointing out that the Council has dealt with the video since the moment it was spread, as an issue touching on human dignity and constituting a clear violation of the rights of persons with disabilities.
This aggression case caused general discontent, after the circulation of the clip on social networking sites, amidst questions about the effectiveness of reporting mechanisms and the awareness of families about the need to resort to competent authorities to pursue those who commit violence and maltreatment, while the Jordanian Penal Code considers the assault on persons with disabilities as several crimes such as negligence, harm, or beating, within the framework of an aggravated circumstance for punishment.
He noted that the persistent and constant follow-up of the case resulted in the security forces catching the person who appeared in the video committing the assault, and arresting the person who filmed the incident, confirming that this step came as a result of intensive and rapid coordination between various concerned entities.
He added that the Council immediately began its movements to follow up on the details of the case since the moment the content was spotted, where direct communication was made with the specialized security entities, alongside coordination with the public prosecutor in Irbid, to take the deterrent legal measures against all those involved in the incident, whether those who carried out the assault or those who filmed it and contributed to its dissemination.
He affirmed that the Council is currently overseeing the investigation proceedings continuously, intending to ensure full coverage of all the details of the incident and not to overlook any detail, and to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable according to the law, in line with national legislation and international agreements related to the rights of persons with disabilities.
In his message directed to families and the community, he emphasized the importance of families holding onto their legal rights and not renouncing them under any circumstances, while also urging all community members to immediately report any case of violence or suspected abuse that persons with disabilities may be subjected to.
He stressed the Council's commitment to pursuing the perpetrators judicially until full justice is achieved, and to work on preventing such violations, ensuring a safer, more respectful, and dignified environment for persons with disabilities in the society.
