Saudi couple beat 'illegitimate' baby to death

JEDDAH (Web Desk) - A Saudi man and his wife beat their 18-month-old son to death after the woman told her husband she conceived before marriage, according to local media reports.

Police arrested the couple at their house in the Western Red Sea port of Jeddah after the boy died of his injuries in hospital.

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‘Sabq’ newspaper quoted doctors as telling police the boy died after he was severely beaten after bruises and wounds were found all over his body.

“Sources said that the woman told police her husband decided to get rid of the boy after being told he is illegitimate,” the paper said.

After the news was reported in Arabic newspaper, it went viral on social media. Most of the social media users expressed shock and disbelief at the news, however, many users also held the view that the woman should have be handed over to the Saudi religious police for appropriate punishment.