Father is arrested after footage of him slapping his baby daughter because she had not learned to stand or walk goes viral in Saudi Arabia
- Yousif Alqutai, a 40-something Palestinian, was filmed striking the young girl
- The father is seen grabbing her by the neck and dangling her above the floor
- After officers in Riyadh were alerted to the viral video, they arrested Alqutai
- Alqutai has released an apology video, and reportedly blamed his wife for abuse
A father has been arrested by Saudi Arabian police after footage resurfaced of him slapping his screaming baby daughter because she was struggling to stand up.
Yousif Alqutai, a 40-something Palestinian living in the Gulf state, was filmed striking the young girl across the face and on the back each time her frail legs buckle from under her.
And in a seemingly cruel attempt to get her to stand, he grabs her by the scruff on the neck and dangles her above the ground as she wails.
Yousif Alqutai, a 40-something Palestinian living in the Gulf state, was filmed striking the young girl across the face and on the back each time her frail legs buckle from under her
He is seen grabbing her right ankle and tipping her on to the floor where he then slaps her on the back
Alqutai insists that the video was taken a long time ago and is seeking forgiveness, according to the New Arab.
He even released a social media apology video featuring the girl, in which he said: ‘As you can all see now she is perfectly fine.
‘I tried to teach her to walk and now look by the grace of God she walks by herself.’
But the first clip, which went viral, has triggered a massive backlash online with many even calling on the authorities to intervene.
Lebanese actress Nadine Nassib Njeim retweeted a post which said: ‘Children Protection Associations need to intervene urgently for sure!
In a seemingly cruel attempt to get her to stand, he grabs her by the scruff on the neck and dangles her above the ground as she wails
In Alqutai’s apology video on Twitter, he insists the girl is fine and can now walk
‘But honestly this toddler is damaged in a way or another!
‘The way he hit her on the head. I can’t take her out of my head!
‘What is happening to humanity? It’s insane!’
After police were alerted to the viral video, they moved to identify Alqutai and detain him.
A force spokesperson said: ‘The man, a Palestinian national in his 40s, has been identified as the culprit and he was arrested from the Casablanca neighborhood, south of Riyadh city,’ according to the Saudi Gazette.
The officer added that the Saudi police would ‘provide necessary care to his four children’.
The video sparked a backlash online and prompted officers in Riyadh to identify and arrest Alqutai
The video, which makes uncomfortable viewing, shows Alqutai sat on the floor holding his daughter, trying to get to stand.
But as her knees buckle, he suddenly sends his outstretched right palm clattering into the young girl’s cheek.
He is then seen grabbing her right ankle and tipping her on to the floor where he then slaps her on the back.
In the apology video, Alqutai blamed his wife – and mother of his four children – for abuse which caused him psychological damage.