Shafaq News-Baghdad
Security forcesarrested five suspects across two separate rape cases involving minors inBaghdad in less than a week, one of which ended in the death of a four-year-oldgirl, security sources said.
Two suspectswere detained on Friday following the rape of an 11-year-old girl in the Suwaybarea, southwest of the capital, a security source told Shafaq News. Both havebeen remanded into custody pending investigation.
Five daysearlier, three suspects were arrested in the Dusseim district of easternBaghdad on charges of kidnapping, assault, and rape involving a 15-year-oldgirl and a four-year-old child. The teenager was beaten but managed to escape,while the younger child was held, assaulted, and later found in a stagnantwater channel. She was hospitalized and died of her injuries, police sourcessaid. Investigators are examining whether the suspects were under the influenceof narcotics at the time, with medical and forensic reports pending.
Neither casehas produced a formal statement from the Interior Ministry as of publication. Both prompted calls on social media for stronger legal protections for minors.
