Not everybody knows how to understand Scripture properly, and a Burmese refugee named Kin Park Thaing, 30, is one such example.
Thaing, who now lives in Indiana, beat up her seven-year-old son with a coat hanger, then cited the state's religious freedom law as her defence when she was slapped with felony child abuse charges, according to Charisma News.
In her court documents, Thaing said a parent who "spares the rod, spoils the child," which came from the Bible verse Proverbs 13:24. She also cited Proverbs 23:13, which says, "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol."
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was enacted in 2015 and is now being used by Thaing for her defence, states that the government cannot interfere with a person's religious liberty unless there is compelling interest to impose. Plus, the government has to interfere in the least restrictive way possible.
Thaing has been granted political asylum in the U.S. She is also taking advantage of cultural differences as part of her defence.
She reportedly beat up her son sometime on Feb. 3 this year. Thaing said she stopped her son from seriously harming his three-year-old sister. To make sure he does not harm his sister again, she actually hit both children with a plastic coat hanger, then instructed them to pray for forgiveness.
"I was worried for my son's salvation with God after he dies," said Thaing. "I decided to punish my son to prevent him from hurting my daughter and to help him learn how to behave as God would want him to."
It was only when the boy's teacher patted him on the back that she saw him flinch. Upon closer inspection, the teacher discovered the red welts on the boy. She reported the incident to the police and child welfare officials who subsequently arrested her on felony child abuse charges.
