Paris: Girl beaten for chatting on MSN

Paris: Girl beaten for chatting on MSN


A 16 year old might lose her eye for chatting on MSN. Caught while on her computer in December, she was beaten and locked up at home in the Paris suburb of Saint-Gratien (Val d'oise). With their parents' permission, both strict Muslims, her two brothers (28 and 32) allegedly punished the victim. The four held a family meeting to avoid legal repercussions.

The brothers and parents [ed: according to one report, the mother was not charged] appeared before a magistrate in Pontoise yesterday, charged with willful violence, kidnapping or more than seven days and neglect.

The investigation started after the victim visited an ophthalmologist, having finally been able to leave the apartment a month after the attacks started. The teenager, who was injured in her eye, was able to consult a specialist, who did not fail to notice the bruises. The young victim risks losing her eye.

At best, according to certain reports, she would retain very diminished eyesight. Her visual acuity is less than a tenth. The specialist immediately reported the incident and the proceedings were launched.

The Enghien-les-Bains police started a preliminary investigation which culminated Wednesday in the arrests of the parents of the victim and her two brothers. The older brother is particularly suspect. They trapped her for eight days in the apartment, in harsh conditions.

The UMP mayor of Saint-Gratien, Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio, says it's unbearable that such a thing can happen in France in the 21st century, to injure your child's eye because of religion. The parents must understand that it's a very serious act.


Sources: Le Parisien, Le Figaro (French), h/t Bivouac-ID

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