LANDMARK CASE: LONDON COURT SENTENCES A MAN TO JAIL FOR KEEPING HIS WIFE IN DOMESTIC SERVITUDE

London Woolwich Crown Court has sentenced 34 year old Safraz Ahmed to two years imprisonment for treating his wife like a slave after an arranged marriage that was conducted in Pakistan.
The court heard that Ahmed who is a mechanic in Southeast London kept his 28 year old wife, Sumara Iram as a prisoner in her own home and was physically and verbally abused.

Ahmed forced his wife, Sumara to cook, clean and look after his mother from 5am to midnight everyday after the mother-in-law moved to England in 2012.

Sumara was slapped by Ahmed when she asked him to consummate the marriage. At one time he covered her face with cushion and another time he threw tins of cat food at her head.

Sumara was not allowed to leave the house alone and it was only when she took overdose in 2014 that she eventually called the emergency services.

Surprisingly, Sumara who is being treated like a slave has a Masters Degree in Islamic Studies.

The Court found Ahmed guilty in a landmark case of holding a person in domestic servitude.

Presiding Judge, Christopher Hehir told Ahmed,

"She was bullied and controlled by you, given little money and expected to cook, clean and look after your family as if she was a skivvy. She described your behaviour as physical and mental torture and in my judgement, she is right".

Ahmed was sentenced to two years in prison and became the first person in England to be convicted of keeping his wife in "domestic servitude".

Ahmed and Sumara are now divorced.