Sakina Muhammad Jan: Mum forced her daughter, 20, to marry a violent older man who killed her
A woman who forced her daughter to marry a violent older man who later killed her with a kitchen knife told her: “I can make decisions for you.”
Sakina Muhammad Jan was found guilty in the Victoria District Court on Thursday of forcing her daughter Ruqia Haidari, 20, to marry Mohammad Ali Halimi, who was 25 in November 2019.
Just six weeks after the wedding ceremony in January 2020, when Ms Haidari turned 21, Halimi slit Ms Haidari’s throat twice and left her on the floor of their Perth home to die.
He was sentenced to life in prison.
A federal police investigation into the horror domestic violence murder ultimately revealed the disturbing trail of events that led to the tragedy β and Muhammad Jan’s role.
Ruqia Haidari was only twenty when she was forced to marry a man who killed her
Sakina Muhammad Jan (photo arrested) has been found guilty of forcing her daughter into marriage
During the two-week trial, Halimi traveled from Perth in May 2019 to meet Ms Haidari’s family in Shepperton.
The couple was set up by Shukria Muqudas, a local matchmaker in the Hazara community, who was also a former friend of Muhammad Jan. ABC news reported.
The court heard that Ms Haidari did not want to get married.
Social worker Kerrie Young, who knew the bride, had contacted police to express her concerns that Ms Haidari was being forced to join the union.
‘I remember Ruqia indicating that she was being given an ultimatum. βShe was advised that she should marry this man,β she said.
Federal police had traveled to Shepperton and interviewed Ms Haidari because they feared ‘she was at risk of forced marriage’.
Despite the concerns, two Islamic ‘nikah’ religious ceremonies to formalize the union took place prior to the wedding in November 2019, attended by 500 guests.
The matchmaker told the court that Ms Haidari wanted to end the relationship before the second nikah took place, but was overruled by her mother.
Mrs Haidari’s throat was slit twice by her husband, who left her bleeding on the floor of their home (pictured)
The couple got married in November 2019 (pictured) and 500 guests attended
The court heard that Ms Haidari told her parents: ‘I don’t want to get married… I don’t want this and I’m not going to accept this at all.’
Muhammad Jan replied: ‘Are you my mother or am I your mother? I can make decisions for you.’
At that time, the mother had already paid a dowry to the groom.
The mother also did not want to stop the arranged marriage because she was afraid that the family’s reputation would be damaged.
Muhammad Jan was charged in October 2020 by human trafficking investigators with the federal police.
She pleaded not guilty, but the jury, which deliberated for more than a day, found her guilty.
The crime of forced marriage is covered by Commonwealth law and carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.
Muhammed Jan was released on bail ahead of a pre-sentence hearing on July 23.