Before judicial and security agencies concluded their investigations into the scandal involving the "TikTokers" gang, who were adept at luring and sexually assaulting children, a new scandal erupted at a school in the Kfarshima area. Reports emerged regarding teachers and staff allegedly harassing female students, prompting a swift response to detain the perpetrators. The public prosecutor in Mount Lebanon, Judge Nazek Al-Khatib, who is investigating the case, requested the detention of the school director, the physical education teacher, and a security staff member to interrogate them regarding suspicions of harassment of underage girls. The "Hadt" precinct of the internal security forces was tasked with conducting preliminary investigations, and the information branch was instructed to apprehend the social studies teacher who was hiding. The director was later released, while the other two remained in detention.
A recording allegedly involving one of the teachers surfaced on social media, reaching parents who filed a complaint against the teacher and his associates. They also informed the Ministry of Education about its content, which quickly sent a team to the school to investigate the incident. Judicial sources told "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the security forces "listened to the testimonies of the students who were subjected to harassment, as well as to the school administration, which denied any knowledge of the matter and confirmed its commitment to take strict measures against the perpetrators, emphasizing its concern for protecting its students and ensuring their dignity."
The recent incident has captured the attention of the Lebanese public over the past hours, opening a discussion on the reasons behind the rising phenomenon of harassment and sexual assault in recent times. This issue seems to have outpaced the punitive measures taken by official authorities, as the pursuit of the "TikTokers" gang did not deter others from such acts. A security source stated that "what is happening necessitates the implementation of deterrent legal measures." The source clarified to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that this phenomenon "is not new but has existed for decades, with security agencies pursuing hundreds of harassers, referring them to the judiciary, and imposing harsh sentences against them."
The security source noted that "it is undeniable that many harassment cases occur in schools, universities, workplaces, and even on public transportation, often kept secret even if victims file complaints against offenders. However, due to the rapid spread of news via social media, these cases have become widely circulated and engage public opinion, which reacts to them." They also pointed out that "the fear factor has been broken, whether among adult or minor victims, regardless of gender, since the crime affects both sexes. Parents have also become more courageous in reporting incidents and demanding punishment for perpetrators, which is a positive development contributing to protecting society from this scourge." The source emphasized that "the judiciary and security treat every complaint of this nature firmly."
Numerous factors contribute to the spread of this crime, requiring public awareness to confront it and strict enforcement of laws, according to Dr. Ferial Halawi, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology at Lebanese University. She highlighted that "the phenomenon of sexual harassment of children and adolescents is dangerous and poses a threat to the entire Lebanese society, underscoring the urgent need for awareness, prevention, and intervention to protect the vulnerable segment of society, namely children." She told "Asharq Al-Awsat" that "the main factors behind this phenomenon include a lack of education and awareness regarding sexual harassment, children’s unawareness of their rights and how to protect themselves, and the crucial factor of accessible applications exposing children to inappropriate content for their age."
Halawi noted that "the decline in parents' supervisory roles, especially after the economic crisis, plays a significant part in falling prey to these issues, as parents have become more lenient regarding the content their children consume on platforms like TikTok." She called for the Lebanese judiciary to be "more decisive in enforcing laws that protect children," urging families to "reclaim their supervisory role and educate children to protect themselves and report if they face danger, so that cases do not remain concealed while we stand by, watching their risk to our children increase."
