Mother of eye-gouging victim calls for justice

A mother of a young girl whose father recently blinded with a medical instrument in Warrap State is calling for justice for her teenager.

At the weekend Agany Kuut Achuil allegedly intentionally used cannula to pierce his daughter’s eyes several times.

The incident happened at Abiook village in Paliang Payam Tonj East County. Preliminary investigation showed that Kuut, 45, was disappointed in his 18-year-old daughter after her first marriage failed.
Kuut believed that Akuot was a bad influence to other girls and brought shame to the family and it was “better to blind her” so that she could not “see men again”.
“There is no reason to gouge out my daughter’s eyes. What happened to me has never happened to any other mother in South Sudan,” said Achan Ariik Madut, mother.

Ms Ariik, who said Kuut had chased him away from home before attacking the daughter, appealed to the government to ensure that Kuut is punished for the crimes he has committed.

South Sudan Penal Code 2008 categorizes “permanent deprivation of the sight of an eye, or the hearing of an ear or the power of speech” under grievous harm.

“Whoever…voluntarily causes grievous hurt by any such means, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years and may be liable to a fine,” reads Article 238 (2).