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A 55-year-old man was arrested in south Lebanon after he was accused of sexually assaulting 11 minors, the Internal Security Forces announced Friday. The suspect, identified as M.Z., had allegedly raped the 11 children at various times in his clothing store in Nabatieh. The victims ranged in age from eight to 11.
“The son of a prominent figure in Nabatieh was one of the victims, and his father discovered the abuse after taking [his child] to the doctor,” a security source told The Daily Star.
After the case surfaced, a number of other victims came forward.
“Some told local sheikhs, others the mukhtar or local prominent social figures,” the source said. “We can say that the operation that led to [the suspect’s] arrest is indicative of the close cooperation between civil society, religious institutions and the security forces in the area.”
M.Z. reportedly confessed to the charges under interrogation.
The victims’ names remain confidential to protect their identities.
Sexual abuse remains a taboo subject in Lebanon and is often covered up to protect the “honor” of the victims’ families.
The ISF urged victims, and especially their parents, to inform police about such incidents rather than keep the information to themselves to help decrease the occurrence of such crimes.
Source: The Daily Star Lebanon
