Child rescuer picked as 'person of the month'

A Sharjah police officer who risked his life to rescue a nine-year-old girl from a rapist in the emirate was selected as “person of the month” by Emarat Alyoum Arabic language daily, which introduced the award at the start of 2012.

Major Hamad Abdullah Al Riyami was picked for the February award because of his “unique courage when he risked his life to save a child from a man who tried to rape her,” Emarat Alyoum’s editor in chief Sami Al Riyami said.

Riami was at his home when he heard screams at a nearby deserted house in Sharjah. He rushed to the house and came face to face with the Arab man as he was about to rape the girl he had snatched just in front of her home.

"Major Riyami  risked his life to save the child from the human wolf as that man managed to get into his car and tried to knock the police officer over,” newspapers quoted a Sharjah police statement as saying last month.

The Dubai-based Emarat Alyoum, one of the region’s most popular Arabic language newspapers, launched that award to honour outstanding people for their role in the society, the first prize of its kind in the country.

An affiliate of the Dubai Media Incorporated, one of the largest media establishments in the region, Emarat Alyoum said its editing board would pick the person at the end of each month.

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