Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper): A mother and son were convicted for mistreating her daughter by tying her up. The mother received a two-year sentence with probation.
A mother and her son were found guilty of mistreating their daughter by tying her up at home. The prosecutor described the seriousness and premeditation of the actions and requested a two-year prison sentence with an 800-euro fine against the mother as well as probation. This means she could avoid jail if she follows certain rules.
What happened to the 16-year-old girl who fainted?
It has been said that the case highlighted the issue of domestic abuse, aiming to protect the girl. While the mother denied hitting her daughter, she admitted to telling her son to tie the girl up. The judges decided on the two-year sentence with probation, requiring the mother to get help for family issues and keep a job. If she follows the rules, she can stay out of jail.
In this case, a prosecutor revealed that a mother and her 15-year-old son restrained the mother’s teenage daughter at home. This incident happened when the mother decided the girl couldn’t go with them to the market. To enforce her decision, the mother ordered her son to tie the girl to a radiator. He used rope to secure her and taped her mouth shut, leaving her unable to move or speak for 2 to 3 hours until the family returned. During the investigation, the police discovered tape with the girl’s hair disposed of in the garbage, which subscribed to what was narrated by her.
On February 13, 2023, a school reported to the police when a 16-year-old girl fainted. She indicated she had not been home and eaten over the weekend. There had been past reports of violence in her home, prompting police involvement. The girl felt safer at school than at home, where her mother wanted her to follow strict cultural rules and disagreed with her modern views. For example, she wasn’t allowed to have friends on social media, and when her mother saw photos of her in short clothes, she reacted angrily.
