Rasafa Police officers pictured with the rescued girl (left) and the detained suspect (right) following the arrest in Baghdad’s al-Ubaidi neighborhood, October 30, 2025.
Father arrested after video appears to show brutal assault on daughter in Baghdad
BAGHDAD — Rasafa Police announced Thursday the arrest of a man accused of severely beating his daughter with a plastic hose, saying security forces will not tolerate any act that violates human values or harms family members.
A video circulated on social media appeared to show a young girl in Baghdad being violently beaten by a man using a water hose. Activists shared the footage, calling on authorities to intervene and saying the incident occurred in the Hay al-Ri’asa area of the capital’s al-Ubaidi neighborhood.
In a statement, police said, “Rasafa Police units have just arrested a suspect after he assaulted his daughter in a brutal beating incident that sparked public outrage.”
Authorities said the man was immediately detained, and legal procedures have been initiated against him. The victim was placed under protection and referred to specialized agencies for medical and psychological care.
The Rasafa Police Command said security forces “will not tolerate any act that violates human values or assaults family members,” emphasizing that law enforcement remains committed to enforcing the law “firmly and fairly to protect society.”
Domestic and family violence in Iraq remains widespread, with nearly 14,000 incidents reported in the first five months of 2024, according to an Interior Ministry report published June 9. Officials attribute the rise to the lack of strong legislation protecting victims, most of whom are women and children.
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