|
|
Is it child abuse for Muslim parents to force their child to fast during Ramadan if he doesn’t want to? rye. asked:
Let’s say the child has Muslim parents but he himself doesn’t believe in Islamic beliefs. Would it be child abuse for his parents to not feed him or allow him to eat for twelve hours every day for a month? 13 CommentsSorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time. |
|
Child neglect, certainly, if not abuse.
Sorry if I sound ignorant to the faith, I respect people’s religion, however if someone is SO religious that they would put their faith before their children’s best interests, then they should be sterilised before they can ever even have children. Same can be said for Jehovah’s Witnesses who would not allow their dying children to receive a blood transfusion. Those people deserve to be shot and have their children given to a family that has the capability to take care of them properly.
Edit: Just came back to this and wanted to add, having read the other answers, that I have no idea if this is the case with Muslims or not and I have no bias towards or against any faith, my point is generally that those who put ANYTHING, including faith, before the best interests of their children, are not fit parents, and if this example were the case it is quite clear to me that fasting for 12 hours is NOT in the child’s best interests, particularly if that child expressed a wish not to be a part of that faith, and so in my eyes it would be neglect. Those who disagree with my basic point, that nothing should be put before children, really disgust me, and I hope those that gave my thumbs downs are not parents, and if you are - you should take a look in the mirror and find out where your priorities lie, perhaps you should never have become a parent at all. When you have children, EVERYTHING else takes a backseat.
Twelve hours isn’t THAT long. I wouldn’t personally deprive my kids from food for twelve hours, but it is their religion and I’m pretty sure since the kids are brought up with their beliefs- that they cooperate.
I don’t think it would be child abuse. You’re pretty much under your parents’ rules when you’re under 18. Unless the kid is being starved (which it doesn’t sound like), I don’t think it’s abuse.
Fasting for long periods of time and then eating in excess all of a sudden is not good for the body! If only Allah the all-knowing had known that when he apparently wrote the manual, eh?
I think kids and pregnant women are excluded from it. And maybe sick people. I watched a documentary once but I can’t quite remember. But yeah, they put people who need the nutrients to grow, survive or carry a baby at risk. They’re aren’t stupid, well, there’s bound to be one that is…
Children are not required to participate in the fasting part of Ramadan. I don’t see any good reason for a Muslim parent to force their child to do so if the religion doesn’t require it. I wouldn’t think that a 12 hour fast would be in the child’s best interest. However, I don’t know any Muslim families well enough to know what common practices are.
I don’t think fasting is requested from children.
It depends on the age of the kid. Although it’s not a requirement. I still would not call it abuse. Not wonderful parenting…yes. Abuse, no. When I was in high school I chose to fast during Ramadan once. I had a close muslim friend at the time. I wanted to see how it felt. Walk in my friends shoes a little bit. I learned a lot about the religion and even for me (who is not muslim) it was a positive learning experience. I still drank plenty of fluids (water) and you don’t eat like a fiend at the end of the day to make up for it. No, I would not call it abuse. The question would be why did that child stray from their faith. As a parent of that particular child, that’s what I’d want to know.
Also fasting during the day, and a critical life threatening condition are VERY different in my opinion.
It’s only 12 hours they’re only trying to teach religion ..when the child gets old enough to decide if he/she wants to do it or not and is able to choose their own religion then they aren’t forced too
no its not that’s there religion…..
I would say at the least child neglect, im not sure if it is legally child abuse. I would certainly notify authorities. Some younger kids that arent used to fasting could be seriously injured physically (and possibly emotionally) from fasting, especially if they arent motivated by beliefs.
No, it is not child abuse any more than a vegetarian parent not allowing their child to eat meat, an observant Jewish parent requiring their child keep kosher, or a Christian parent who serves ham for Sunday dinner.
None of these children are in any danger.
All the best.
Young children are exempt from the fasting part of Ramadan, so I would say when it isn’t even required by the religion, then it’s neglect. Kids with low blood sugar or similar problems could have serious health problems show up in circumstances like that…