Baku — August 27, 2025
The image is shocking: a small boy tied by the leg to a door, as if restraint were a substitute for care. Shared widely on Azerbaijani social media, the footage has sparked public outrage — and raised difficult questions about how children are still treated in some households.
Psychologist Gyular Mammadova put it bluntly: “This is treating a child like a wild animal. It is a severe blow to the child’s psyche.” She is right. Acts like these are not just punishments or momentary lapses of judgment. They leave scars that can last well into adulthood, shaping a child’s sense of self, trust, and safety.
The State Committee for Family, Women, and Children’s Affairs has promised action. But beyond official statements lies a deeper reality: incidents of abuse often come to light only after they are exposed online. Many others remain hidden within families, excused as “discipline” or dismissed as private matters.
This case reveals more than one mother’s cruelty — it reflects a mindset where children are seen less as individuals with rights and more as possessions to be controlled. When parents treat their sons and daughters as if they were pets to be tied down, society must confront not only the act itself but also the culture that tolerates it.
Azerbaijan, like many societies, is proud of its traditions of family and respect for elders. But true respect for family begins with protecting its most vulnerable members. No cultural norm can justify humiliation or cruelty toward children.
Outrage is the first step. Change must be the next.
