A Saudi father who allegedly locked his 21-year-old daughter up must return her to Britain, a High Court judge has ruled.
Amina Al-Jeffery, who grew up in Swansea and has dual British and Saudi nationality, moved to Jeddah with her family in 2012.
She claimed her father, Mohammed Al-Jeffery, locked her up because she "kissed a guy".
Mr Justice Holman oversaw a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London last month.
During the hearing, the judge said Mr Al-Jeffery had admitted locking his daughter in his flat when he went out.
It also emerged that Mr Al-Jeffery, who is in his 60s, had previously admitted having a "steel latticework" over windows to stop his daughter from shouting out.
Barrister Marcus Scott-Manderson QC, representing Mr Al-Jeffery said: "He wants to help Amina.
"He says he brought her to Saudi Arabia to help her. The father says Amina was at risk in Britain.
"As head of the family it was (his) decision to bring Amina to Saudi Arabia. (He) decided to do it because Amina was not focusing on school."
The judge noted that while it was possible Miss Al-Jeffery was being manipulative, there was a "degree of admission" from her father.
Miss Al-Jeffery has been in contact with friends in the UK, asking for help.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Holman said he had concluded that Miss Al-Jeffery's freedom of movement had been severely constrained.
He added that she could be described as "caged" - although not literally "in a cage".
"Current circumstances are such that this British citizen does require protection.
"She is currently in peril from which she requires to be rescued.
"To do nothing at all would, in my view, be dereliction towards Amina."
The judge said that Mr Al-Jeffery, an academic, should provide his daughter with her Saudi and British passports and pay her fare.
While the judge said he had a "moral hold" over Mr Al-Jeffery, he accepted there was little he could do to enforce his ruling.
But should Mr Mr Al-Jeffery return to Britain without complying, Mr Justice Holman said he might face contempt of court proceedings.
Mr Justice Holman said Miss Al-Jeffery should be returned by 11 September.
Speaking after the ruling, solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson, who represented Miss Al-Jeffery said: "We have got exactly what we wanted."
She claimed her father, Mohammed Al-Jeffery, locked her up because she "kissed a guy".
Mr Justice Holman oversaw a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London last month.
During the hearing, the judge said Mr Al-Jeffery had admitted locking his daughter in his flat when he went out.
It also emerged that Mr Al-Jeffery, who is in his 60s, had previously admitted having a "steel latticework" over windows to stop his daughter from shouting out.
Barrister Marcus Scott-Manderson QC, representing Mr Al-Jeffery said: "He wants to help Amina.
"He says he brought her to Saudi Arabia to help her. The father says Amina was at risk in Britain.
"As head of the family it was (his) decision to bring Amina to Saudi Arabia. (He) decided to do it because Amina was not focusing on school."
The judge noted that while it was possible Miss Al-Jeffery was being manipulative, there was a "degree of admission" from her father.
Miss Al-Jeffery has been in contact with friends in the UK, asking for help.
He added that she could be described as "caged" - although not literally "in a cage".
"Current circumstances are such that this British citizen does require protection.
"She is currently in peril from which she requires to be rescued.
"To do nothing at all would, in my view, be dereliction towards Amina."
The judge said that Mr Al-Jeffery, an academic, should provide his daughter with her Saudi and British passports and pay her fare.
While the judge said he had a "moral hold" over Mr Al-Jeffery, he accepted there was little he could do to enforce his ruling.
But should Mr Mr Al-Jeffery return to Britain without complying, Mr Justice Holman said he might face contempt of court proceedings.
Mr Justice Holman said Miss Al-Jeffery should be returned by 11 September.
Speaking after the ruling, solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson, who represented Miss Al-Jeffery said: "We have got exactly what we wanted."
No comments:
Post a Comment