Posted on 07/27/2005 4:11:22 PM PDT by WaveMan
The ordeal is finally over, but for the past year, a North Carolina family has been torn apart after state officials claimed family photos of a father kissing his baby's belly button were some kind of child abuse.
It began when Teresa Hamaty took impromptu party snapshots of her husband, Charbel, playfully embracing their naked, newborn son, Kristoff.
After dropping the film off at an Eckerd store in North Raleigh, authorities were notified.
"You see the back of the baby, and like if someone is kissing the baby's belly button," Teresa told WRAL-TV.
But police saw the worst and arrested Teresa for taking sexually explicit photos, charged her husband with felony sexual assault, and put Kristoff and his half-sister in protective custody.
"It was a nightmare," Charbel said, after spending half a year in jail.
Teresa took months fighting to gain back custody of her children.
"I think this was one of those times that they got the wrong people," Teresa said. "They were too quick to judge when they took one look at my husband."
Dozens of Hamaty supporters showed up for court appearances, claiming police overreacted. They raised some $140,000 in legal and living expenses for the Hamatys.
"[It] makes me feel, that's it that's why I have to be strong for to show everybody what the truth is," Charbel told the station.
The charges eventually were dropped when a report submitted by an expert said there was no criminal intent in the pictures.
"I hate cameras," Charbel now says. "I don't like taking pictures."
ROFL
Absolutely. We do this to all the babies in our family and they squeal with delight. Boy am I glad my kids are grown. I know the social workers would have gotten me for trying to spank my kids while they were in the back seat while I was driving. I only hit air, but the kids knew I was serious. LOL This was a tradition on Sunday morning going to church.
I had heard this side of the case also. (I live near Raleigh). It appears the DA caved to 'cultural differences'.
Lighten up
I wouldn't call this "the rest of the story." It would appear after the final disposition of the case, this reporter didn't get a damn thing right.
Yeah.
More revalations about the "culture" fostered by the "Religion of Peace."
Isn't diversity wonderful?
>>>>>
Um where does it say theyre muslim ?
There are plenty of Lebanese Christians
Some very sick uptight freepers who condem a parent for giving their baby rasberry smooches.
Color me skeptical on the inital report. I could be wrong, but the more recent of the two reports says "belly button," not penis.
Posting again........... Perfectly nice looking young couple !
I'd love to bitchslap the dolt who saw malevolence in their family pics.
In a batch of photos, a few showed a naked Kristoff, then an infant, being kissed by his half-sister, Victoria, and proud father Charbel.
And what an adorable kid they have.
The line "The court ruled that the father kissing his son's penis was a common cultural practice and not a sexual act." refers to the case of the Afghan father who was acquitted of sexual abuse; close to 100% of Afghans are Muslims. So if penis kissing is a common cultural practice in Afghanistan, it's safe to say that it is approved by Muslims.
For the record, the father who apparently was merely giving his baby a raspberry in the belly button is a Lebanese Christian; the longer article mentioned the name of the Maronite Church attended by his family.
What an invasion of privacy.
I guess you have to keep in mind the picture was taken from the back and theres no way to know it was a kiss. Right?
the civil suit against Eckerd is going to be huge.
I don't think they should be sued but then it's not happening to me. If it was me, I may or may not have called. I do second guess myself I'm paranoid about children being abused. I think the photo tech did what they thought was right. The police should be sued for their dopey overreaction.
He's from Lebanon, where many Christians live. In fact, it's mentioned on the article that their relatives attend church regularly.
Of course, we let a real sex offender of children go because he has influential ties in hollywierd.
They would have caught me in a flagrant "rasberry" with my 4 year old daughter 3 hours ago. Panties on, however.
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