In a landmark case, a mother has been sentenced to jail under Australia’s forced marriage laws for pressuring her daughter to marry a man who later murdered her. Sakina Muhammad Jan coerced her daughter Ruqia Haidari to marry Mohammad Ali Halimi in exchange for money, leading to Haidari’s tragic death just six weeks after the wedding. Jan, a refugee from the Hazara tribe in Afghanistan, maintained her innocence despite the guilty verdict.
The court heard how Haidari had been previously forced into a marriage at a young age and had aspirations for education and work. Despite her daughter’s wishes, Jan ignored them, ultimately abusing her authority as a mother. Forced marriage laws, introduced in Australia in 2013, aim to combat such practices which are often likened to slavery.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus emphasized the prevalence of forced marriages in Australia, with 90 cases reported to the authorities in a single year. The sentencing of Jan serves as a significant step in addressing this issue, highlighting the need for greater awareness and protection of individuals vulnerable to such coercion.