BE CAUTIOUS, PREGNANT WOMEN URGED

Photos they post online are being misused by sexual predators

SEXUAL predators with a fetish for pregnant women have been detected prowling on social media, a trend that needs to be nipped in the bud.

An expert advised pregnant women to be more cautious when it comes to social media postings.

Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Dr Ahmad Rostam Md Zin said technological advancement had allowed people with the fetish called maiesiophilia, to come together to share their obsession.

He said it was a rare affliction and, at the same time, there was a lack of awareness, which made it difficult to identify maiesiophiliacs.

“Maiesiophilia, an abnormal sexual fetish, is a mental illness that is much like paedophilia, zoophilia and necrophilia.

“They are more likely to commit crimes when they cannot control their urges as usually happens with paedophiles,” Dr Ahmad said, adding that this was why pregnant women needed to be more aware of their surroundings.

“For those who face such sexual abuse or find that their pictures are being misused, they should lodge a report with the authorities and spread awareness of this illness to the public.”

A kindergarten assistant, Hani, 29, said she had learnt this the hard way after a photo of her was shared on Facebook without her consent.

“The picture was uploaded when I was pregnant with my eldest son. There was not a single worry when I shared it on Facebook about if I was exposing any part of my body.

“A week later, I was told by my friend that my photo was shared in other groups and when I read the comments, I felt so disgusted.”

She said she sent a personal message via Facebook to the owner of the group and asked him to delete the picture.

She also lodged a police report. Hani said the individual refused to delete the picture and blamed her for uploading the image.

“Two days later, Facebook blocked the page, but until today, I am traumatised and do not want to upload any more pictures on Facebook,” said the mother of two.