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INTERPOL ISSUED A global alert today for a five-year-old boy with a brain tumour snatched from hospital by his family, as authorities said only hours remained to save his life.
Ashya King’s parents took him Thursday from hospital in the southern British city of Southampton without doctors’ consent and boarded a ferry to the French port of Cherbourg.
It is not yet known why Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, took their son. While they are Jehovah’s Witnesses, the movement said there was no indication their decision was motivated by religious convictions.
“There are serious concerns for Ashya’s health, he is immobile and likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy, and cannot communicate verbally,” Interpol said in a statement.
The missing persons alert went out to all 190 Interpol member countries, dramatically stepping up the hunt for the missing child.
Detective Superintendent Dick Pearson from police in Hampshire, southern England, who is leading the investigation, said: “If we do not locate Ashya today there are serious concerns for his life.”
Another police spokesman, Chris Shead, told reporters the boy was being fed through a tube, adding: “The feeding system is battery operated and that battery will run out today.”
Time is running out for this little boy. We need to find him and we need to find him urgently.
In a statement, the hospital in Southampton said Ashya was allowed to leave the ward under his parents’ supervision and hospital staff raised the alarm when the length of his absence “became a cause of concern”.
“The information we have received from his medical team at Southampton General Hospital is that he must continue to be fed via a tube by someone with the relevant medical training,” Shead said.
“If he doesn’t receive urgent medical care, or the wrong treatment is given, his condition will become life-threatening.”
Plea to his parents
Cherbourg prosecutor Eric Bouillard told AFP authorities believed he was “kidnapped given the circumstances of his departure from hospital”.
“For the moment, what we most want to do is contact the family,” he added.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for refusing blood transfusions on religious grounds, but they are otherwise open to other medical procedures.
The religious movement confirmed Friday that the parents are members.
“However, we are not aware of the facts of the case nor the reasons for the family’s medical choices which are personal decisions,” it said in a statement.
“There is absolutely no indication, as far as we are aware, that their decision is in any way motivated by any religious convictions. Jehovah’s Witnesses are encouraged to seek the best medical treatment for themselves and their children.”
Appealing directly to the family, Shead said: “Our message to you is, ‘Please take Ashya to the nearest hospital immediately.’”
“We understand this must be an awful time for you but the most important thing is to get the proper medical care for Ashya. Please work with us to provide Ashya that care.”
French authorities told AFP the family arrived on Thursday night with their seven children and were driving a grey Hyundai with the number plate KP60 HWK.
The other six children are between three and 22 years old. A phone number — 0800 35 83 35 — has been set up for anyone with information.
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To those who complain, “Why do we still need Pride?:
Because places like this still exist and could be a death sentence for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community.
@Honorary Derry Girl: Were there protests about the death sentence for homosexuality in many Muslim majority countries at pride? I’m all for anyone living their lives however they want free of bigots, but the failure of pride to call this out is hypocrital. Maybe they do bring it up and I’m wrong, but I’ve never seen it.
@D74Life: That’s a very good point- I agree that should be done but while we’re at it, we could also include countries right within the EU. Pride is pretty much a large positive demonstration of sexual identity but it should also be a message to the world that we’re all equal without singling out a particular religion or country. Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community can be an executable offence in Christian countries like Uganda as well as Muslim countries like Iran.
@Honorary Derry Girl: Absolutely, and it’s great to see pride highlighting Hungry. They’re not alone in Eastern Europe or Russia of course either. My point was just it’s relatively easy to have a go at European mostly white countries. Doing so about Muslim countries is something that people shy away from for fear of being called racist. Even those these countries literally kill homosexuals. I’m not having a go at pride, it’s a difficult subject. But unless it’s addressed, the accusation of hypocrisy will always be there.
@Honorary Derry Girl: Rubbish. As an old git I have know about gays since I was in high school. They are just like everyone else, free to choose their sexual partner unless it is coercive. I was taught to embrace all humanity in its many forms. Labels are not conducive to understanding.
It says a lot about their sexual insecurities and their fragile beliefs when a cartoon kiss upsets them. There is no place on this planet for unfounded hatred of others that are simply living their lives.
If you have no problem with a man kissing a woman in a Disney movie (especially unconscious women like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) but have a problem with two girls doing the same thing, you’re a homophobic bigot.
Disney has its many issues but fair play to them for this. Yes they are hypocritical but this is a start. Hopefully they will continue with this
@HarveyLemonade: Compare that with Warners cutting a spoken reference to a same sex relationship in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore for release in China.
Ban it over a single kiss? Wtf is wrong with these countries.
It’s Cancel Culture. PC gone mad. So woke.
I never see them take issue with a straight kiss in children’s cartoons. Same with radio discussions; never a topic taking issue with straight people.
@Dean: I think your getting confused. This is right wing conservative censorship. Religious fundamentalism.
Can we not just let Children……. BE CHILDREN….FFS
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: But then they might grow up as adults who aren’t available to be bartered off for a fee to their brothers or uncles.
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: Won’t someone please think of the children!
Dónal “Helen Lovejoy” Ó Keeffe
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: and how are they not being children? Are you suggesting there’s something wrong with the movie?
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: what are you talking about???
I wonder what the anti-woke crusaders make of this. Are they still supporting fReE sPeEcH or are they now aligning their views with conservative Islam, presumably under the guise of their usual “let kids be kids” shtick?
Disney need to keep the kiss in it as in this way at least it might be watched out of curiosity. Going by the reviews, it’s the only interesting thing in the film.
Too bad, how sad. No one is forcing theatres in Malaysia to show this film. People are free to watch or not watch if they want.
have your say