Amman: The mother of eight-year-old Malak has clarified that her daughter passed away due to an airway obstruction caused by a blood clot and was already deceased upon arrival at the hospital. The child had a long-standing medical history, contrary to claims circulating on social media that her death was due to a power outage.
According to Jordan News Agency, the mother explained that Malak's medical issues began at the age of two, including lung and bronchial disease, which required regular monitoring and a medical exemption. Over the years, Malak underwent several medical procedures, including the implantation of a heart mesh and occluder, catheterization, and managed a 55 percent motor disability.
The mother recounted that Malak tragically passed away five days prior, on her birthday, while in the care and presence of her father. She emphasized, "But it is God's will and destiny." She further clarified that a power outage had occurred two weeks earlier but was rectified by the family without any aid or donations, refuting claims that the child's death was related to being on an oxygen device during a power cut.
She expressed her frustration with the spread of misinformation online, stating that certain social media users had falsely claimed that her daughter died due to a lack of electricity, and alleged the family solicited donations to pay the bill. She clarified no such fundraising occurred, as they managed to restore power independently.
The mother lamented, "We woke up in the morning and suddenly found ourselves the topic of social media. Social media increased our grief and made us feel as if we had failed our daughter before her death, despite pampering her and providing everything she needed." She stressed that the family had always relied on their own resources to care for Malak and never sought outside assistance.
In her concluding remarks, she called out those who exploited their tragedy for attention and violated their family's privacy by sharing unauthorized photos of Malak and spreading false narratives. "Our beloved has passed away, but we will not forgive those who violated our grief and intensified it on social media," she stated.
The widespread misinformation regarding Malak's death aligns with findings from the Jordan Media Credibility Monitor (Akeed), which reported that 90 percent of rumors in December originated from social media. Out of 96 monitored news items, 86 were identified as false, averaging three false reports per day.