A Syrian refugee father in Nova Scotia allegedly beat his daughter as punishment for receiving a text message from a boy.
The alleged beating reportedly lasted for 40 minutes and included allegedly punching his daughter in the face five times (breaking her nose) and giving her 50 lashes with a belt.
The father was charged with assault and assault with a weapon and released on conditions that included no contact allowed with his daughter.
“Issues of domestic violence brought them to the attention of child protection authorities in 2017,” said Justice Michelle Christenson of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court’s family division.
“The … father was charged with an offence of violence against his wife. I understand she jumped from a second-story window following an assault by her husband.”
According to the Saltwire, the man was sentenced to time served and was later released on 18-month probation.
“The parents reunited or at least continued to live together in the same residence following these events. The child S.H. lived with them,” Christenson said, adding they were soon alerted to more problems in the home.
Following the alleged beating, Minister of Community Services, Karla MacFarlane, filed an application for child protection services, which children under the age of 16 are entitled to under such horrific circumstances.