A Geelong teenager has told a court he is entitled to beat and whip his younger sister because he is her guardian according to Islam.
A Children’s Court heard the 17-year-old also resisted police during his arrest, telling them later he hoped officers would either shoot him or send him back to Afghanistan.
The youth pleaded guilty on Thursday to assault and breaching an intervention order.
A police prosecutor said that, on December 19 last year, the boy went to his mother’s house and attacked his teenage sister with a metal spoon, hitting her on the arms and causing bruising.
“He was upset because she wouldn’t change the television station,” the prosecutor said.
“He also used the spoon to beat holes in the walls.”
The prosecutor said that, on December 20, the teen returned to the house and an argument started between he and his sister, during which he whipped her around the legs with beads.
“He then threw a speaker at the television smashing the screen,” he said.
“Police attended and, while trying to handcuff him, he kept resisting, repeatedly turning away.
“He was eventually overpowered and handcuffed but continued to resist police.”
The prosecutor said the youth’s offending breached a Good Behavior Bond and a personal safety intervention order.
“When asked his reason for resisting police he told them, ‘I hoped they would either shoot me or send me back to Afghanistan’,” the prosecutor told the court.
“He said that, as a man, he was entitled to replace his mother’s television and that, as a man, he was entitled to hit his sister because he was her guardian according to Islam.”
A Magistrate told the youth that, as a man, he was entitled to replace the television.
“But as a man you are not entitled to beat your sister in Australia,” he said.
“That is not what a man should do.
“You have no right to assault anyone and not your sister and if you continue to do it, you will be locked up.”
The youth was convicted and released on six months probation.