A Dubai drowning has highlighted the extreme views of an Islamic father, who physically prevented two male lifeguards from saving the life of his 20-year-old drowning daughter. The female died after the father, citing a concern over her “modesty” and “honor,” violently thwarted two men – trained lifeguards – from entering the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Writes the AFP, via MSN News on Aug. 10: “A young Asian woman drowned after her father allegedly prevented Dubai lifeguards from coming to the rescue because that would ‘dishonor’ her. Emirates 24/7 reported that Dubai police arrested the unnamed man.”

According to the source, the girl’s father “started pulling and preventing the rescue men and got violent with them,” demanding that a female lifeguard be sent into the water instead. The father said he did not want the men “grappling” at his daughter, and told the rescuers that her death was preferable over the notion that unknown men would be handling her body.

Speaking to Emirates 24/7, Dubai Police Lieutenant Col. Ahmed Burqibah said, “The 20-year-old girl started drowning and screaming for help. Two rescue men were at the beach, and they rushed to help the girl.”

Burqibah said an “obstacle” prevented the lifeguards from reaching the drowning victim. “This obstacle was the belief of this Asian man who considered that if these men touched his daughter, then this would dishonor her. It cost him the life of his daughter—He told them that he prefers his daughter being dead than being touched by a strange man.”