Child dies while imitating Saddam's hanging
By volschenkh
@volschenkh (1043)
South Africa
January 1, 2007 9:12am CST
I find this so sad. Its just been reported on IOL.co.za. Why did they have to show the graphic details on TV? Or is this negligence from the parents side?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Multan, Pakistan - A young boy who tried to copy hanging scenes from the execution video of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein died in central Pakistan,
police said on Monday.
Mubashar Ali, 9, hanged himself, while re-enacting Hussein's hanging with the help of elder sister, 10, after tying a rope to a ceiling fan and his neck in his home in Rahim Yar Khan district
Sunday, a local police official said.
The father of the deceased boy said that his children had been watching the video of Saddam Hussein's execution on television and attempted to imitate the hanging as other family members thought they were playing in another room.
"My wife and sister rushed to rescue Mubashar when children cried for help from the adjoining room, but he died due to hanging," Alamgir Paracha, father of Mubashar, told reporters.
Police said that the death was accidental, but a case of parental negligence has been opened
"It was an accident which happened due to carelessness of parents," district police chief Sultan Ahmad told reporters.
Images of the fallen Iraqi dictator with a noose around his neck, surrounded by executioners in balaclavas, were repeatedly telecast by Pakistani television channels at the weekend.
Commentators and the media across Europe had expressed shock and unease Sunday at graphic television pictures showing the last moments of Hussein just before his execution. - Sapa-AFP
9 people like this
69 responses
@royrules1 (180)
• India
2 Jan 07
statutory warning has to be given while telecasting these kind of programs !
3 people like this
@nickventere (1420)
• Zambia
2 Jan 07
I agree with roy on warnings b4 such graphic images are shown. Actually, I've always added news channels to my parental guidance list and my kids won't see the news unless I am there.
2 people like this
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
1 Jan 07
More importantly, I think the parents should have made an attempt to talk to the child if he has seen it on TV. Children do these things, they go out and play after they've seen it on TV, and start acting on these impulses. Its really sad!
3 people like this
@EconKnowMix (858)
• Philippines
2 Jan 07
It is so sad to know this kind of information.
I think the parents has a big responsibility
on this. It is a must that they should explain to
their children what is happening. Hope this is the lesson
that every parents should take seriously.
Television has a great influence to our children they must
be always be guided on what kind of programs they have to watch.
3 people like this
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
1 Jan 07
Indeed... I feel sorry for their loss. But also slightly angry, for it could have been prevented.
3 people like this
@jennifer611 (2514)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I do not agree that the parents are at fault..
the children were playing. this stuff is all over tv and in everyones faces so how can they not see?
school's are going to be talking about it, parents talk about it, everyone is talking about it...
the children were playing, its horrible that this happened but its no ones fault. maybe we should all take a look at this story and make sure we have a talk with our children they do like to play house and immitate things..
I dont think these parents should get in any trouble, they have enough pain going on right now..
4 people like this
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
1 Jan 07
I agree absolutely, it was just a accident, and Im glad that you feel that this story should inspire parents to talk to their children about the whole thing and how dangerous it really is!
3 people like this
@jennifer611 (2514)
• United States
1 Jan 07
no, they shouldnt.. but do u think that the parents showed him how???? how would u feel if this happened to someone in your family? would u still put blame on the parent? how about one of your own kids?? would u be to blame because of something like this??
yes, its horrible!! but its not their fault.
The kid was playing with his siblings!
are u able to watch your child every second of the day???
has your child ever had an accident???
4 people like this
@murtazamm (64)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I think its not the parents fault..media should be more responsible and not showing the footage in the first place, its officially not even allowed to show video of an execution.
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
1 Jan 07
First off I feel that the parents should have been keeping a better eye on their children. I do not think that what has happened they should be sheilded from after all it is part of history in the making. They should have been taught before hand that such acts can end up hurting them and in some cases could end up even killing them. Although I do think that the media should stop showing displaying videos of Saddam's hanging.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
2 Jan 07
I also think that children shouldn't see things like this. Many events are part of history, so to speak, and it doesn't mean that children have to watch all of them. Part of being a child is being shielded from stuff that adults have to deal with.
3 people like this
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
1 Jan 07
Thanks for the comment, I agree with you to some ectend, but really feel that the child should not have been watching a real life hanging in the first place. But then also could be streched to the high incidence of violence showed on TV these days. So yes you have a point about teaching them about no trying it themselves.
3 people like this
@Lackingstyle (7509)
•
2 Jan 07
It is a shame. I've only just seen the video really and I wouldn't allow any child to watch it. The fact that he was killed was wrong.
2 people like this
@Rosy001 (363)
• South Africa
2 Jan 07
It is very very sad! I personally don't think they should have aired something of that nature on tv. What's worst of all is that it is spreading like wildfire to the mobile networks and tv. So even if they didnt see it on tv, somewhere along the line it would have been accessbile to view via their mobile phones. I think the man's last few moments should have been left to him not for the world to see........
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
2 Jan 07
Its alreade spreading via cell phones, I personally got a video clip on my cell phone this morning. I deleted it, without watching even 2 seconds of it.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Wow, this is so sad. However, I feel that it is okay that children are allowed to watch this and not live in a bubble, IF they are mature enough to handle it. Obviously, the parents should have talked more with their children about this execution. I don't feel that the parents are at fault, either, unless the children were completely unattended. Accidents happen, as horrible as they are. Children can not be sheltered, but must be taught why these things happen. :( My heart goes out to that poor family.
2 people like this
@BittyBiddy (2903)
• Ireland
2 Jan 07
The children were 9 and 10. They should NOT have been watching a person being executed on television. And they also shouldn't be told about barbaric things such as executions at this early age. They should still be watching Disney and Warner Brothers.
And if it was a case that the children were completely unattended then they were being neglected and the parents should most definately be charged with negligence.
2 people like this
@dscaveman (48)
• United States
1 Jan 07
Its a sad incident. Theres been a young kid that killed himself a while back because he had seen someone hung on a movie. It's a subject that the parents should have taken the responsability to talk to their kids about. I think they should have switched Saddam with Bush and had it done in front of his dads grave with Saddam smiling behind him. At least it would have saved the little kid. Happy New Year!
3 people like this
@SUNFLWRLUVR (143)
• United States
1 Jan 07
how would the parents know that the children would try to imitate this act, and they probably have let the kids go play as usual, now i must say everything on t.v. ain't for everybody and we as parents have to monitor these closely to make sure that our kids have the best of examples and so forth
2 people like this
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
1 Jan 07
I think its common knowledge that children play out what they see on TV, in the movies and even what happens in their everyday environment. I think parents should know this, right?
1 person likes this
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
1 Jan 07
I dont think we should play the "Who's to blame" game on this topic. I really think that its just a sad incident, which could have been prevented.
2 people like this
@Lackingstyle (7509)
•
2 Jan 07
It's the sister that must be really going through it.
1 person likes this
@deslimshadey (1)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Ok, He here is one for the books!!! Why would someone let there nine year old watch the hanging of someone, when do we get back to when children are children and do not have to see to deal with those things which should be left to adults, I could understand if this child was fifteen or sixteen years old. Come on now we need to get back to when children are children and get back to playing and just worrying about there tomagachi's not getting enough rest. I think we need to keep these things from our children, I know it is reality but when was reality a requirement for being a child. Thanks
2 people like this
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
2 Jan 07
Thanks for the post. Wow, I did not know what a "tamagotchi" is...had to look it up on the internet first.
@euniceeleanor (5967)
• Singapore
2 Jan 07
this is so sad!! how could the parents allow the boy and the sister to watch this...it's execution of another human being...and not suitable for children...this is just so sick!
2 people like this
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
2 Jan 07
It's just a sad unfortunate accident. I don't think the parent's were neglectful, and you could make the argument why did they allow the child to watch it on tv, but you know what? He would've seen it somewhere else as well. When Mary Poppins came out in the movies, how many kids thought they could fly with an umbrella? Kid's just do those kinds of things.
2 people like this
@soniashoes (62)
• United States
2 Jan 07
oh my gosh this is horrible. Children learn so much garbage from television and it so disgusting to know that there seems to be not much to do about it. Because the media makes money showing lots of bad things
2 people like this
@pinoytypist (280)
• Philippines
2 Jan 07
this is really sad news to welcome the new year. the children's parents should have never let them watch those videos. or if they had already watched it they should have explained it to the children.
@UnHolyLove (96)
• India
2 Jan 07
Well many poeple imitate a lot of things. Its up to their parents to make sure their children don't do something like that. These things happen you know.
2 people like this
