Parents convicted of forced marriage in Leeds

Wednesday, 30 May 2018 07:00

A couple from Leeds have been convicted of tricking their daughter into travelling to Bangladesh in order to force her into marriage.

The defendants told their children in the summer of 2016 that they were travelling to Bangladesh for a holiday to visit relatives. Once they arrived in a remote village, the victim was told she was to be married to her cousin.

When she refused, her parents took her phone away and threatened her with violence if she did not agree to the marriage. She was assaulted and her father threatened to slit her throat and to ‘chop her up’ in 18 seconds - one for each year of her life - if she refused to comply.

After being made aware of the escalating situation, the British High Commission in Bangladesh, the Forced Marriage Unit, and Bangladeshi police worked together to rescue the victim and bring her safely back to the UK.

The parents, who cannot be named to maintain the victim’s legal entitlement to lifetime anonymity, were convicted at Leeds Crown Court following a trial. They were found guilty of offences of forced marriage and using violence or a form of coercion.

They will both be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Monday 18 June.

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