The Public Prosecutor's office in Jordan has referred the case of a teacher at a special education center who assaulted a student with disabilities to the Irbid Criminal Court to consider the continuation of her detention. The court, in turn, decided to reject the teacher’s release and ordered her continued detention in a correction and rehabilitation center. The Public Prosecutor's office acted according to its legal authority and duties to investigate the case, with the Irbid prosecutor filing a public lawsuit on behalf of the public interest, charging the teacher with abuse and assault against a person with disabilities due to their disability.
The incident has caused shock among the Jordanian public after a video went viral showing the teacher verbally and physically abusing a child with disabilities at a special education center in Irbid Governorate. The Ministry of Education commented on the incident.
The law allows the Public Prosecutor to initiate a public lawsuit without waiting for a personal lawsuit or any complaint in such cases of assault. The teacher contested the detention decision, stating that she used this method to discipline the student; however, the court rejected the appeal and upheld the Public Prosecutor's decision to continue her detention.
The Public Prosecutor is investigating the authenticity of the circulated videos to determine if they have been edited. The Prosecutor's office is strict in such cases, emphasizing that dealing with these groups requires patience and specific educational methods, avoiding the use of physical punishment and psychological harm. Those who teach in this kind of environment should possess attributes of patience and prioritize the well-being of this legally protected category.
Investigations have revealed that the father of the assaulted student is currently abroad and separated from the student's mother, with the child under the care of his grandmother. Notably, the center mistakenly posted the video on its social media page before deleting it. The video showed a child with special needs being abused after he struggled to pronounce a letter and saliva dripped from his mouth, which angered the teacher, leading her to slap him immediately. This incident sparked widespread outrage in Jordan, with calls for the teacher to be punished as a lesson for others.
Additionally, the Syndicate of Owners of Special Education Centers issued a statement on Thursday condemning the abuse of children and bullying, regardless of its source or reason.
