Gulf News, Dubai, 3 March 2003

Spanking for girls who beat up school counsellor

By A Staff Reporter
in Ras Al Khaimah

The case of two schoolgirls who beat up a school counsellor has been settled with a spanking for the two offenders. The head of their tribe stepped in and punished the girls in front of the whole school during morning assembly... and honour was restored.

The original incident occurred at a preparatory school. School sources said the head of the tribe beat them in front of the school because they had attacked the counsellor in front of the school.

He also asked all the teachers and administrative staff to attend the assembly. The head told the counsellor, who belongs to another tribe, that she could "extract her right" from the UAE national sisters, but she did not.

The case was referred to the Sharia Court. The incident at the assembly followed a deal brokered by the two sides. The deal also required relatives of the national counsellor to watch the tribal head beat the girls.

Sources said the counsellor and the sisters will sign a paper reconciling them. It will be sent to the Sharia Court to end the case. Ties between the tribes will also be smoothened now.

The sources stressed that following the verdict of the court, the Ministry of Education and Youth will take action against one of the sisters who studies in a nearby school.

A senior Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone official said the two sisters are not from the same school. One studies at a nearby school and the other at the a women's college. They entered the preparatory school to beat a girl when they were spotted by the counsellor who knew about their feud.

She tried to stop them, but the girls pounced on the counsellor and beat her severely.

The principal reported the case to the Educational Zone, which suspended one of the sisters till the investigation was over. Police also investigated the case.

The cause of the feud between the girls is still unknown, but investigations are on.

Earlier, Dr Jamal Al Muhairi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Youth, wrote to the Head of the Public Prosecution demanding that he be informed of investigations.

Dr Al Muhairi said the ministry had also opened investigations and any information would help. He also demanded a copy of the Sharia Court's verdict.

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