Haidari and Halimi were married in Shepparton in August 2019 and later moved to Halimi’s home in Perth. Tragically, Halimi killed his young bride just five months after their wedding and is currently serving a life prison term for murder. In court, Judge Fran Dalziel found that Jan, Halimi’s mother, had shown no remorse for her part in the events leading up to the marriage. The judge stated that Jan had abused her power as a mother and did not act in her daughter’s best interests. Despite Jan’s claims that she was unaware of her daughter’s desire to back out of the engagement, the judge rejected her defense and emphasized that forced marriage is against the law.
Ms. Haidari had expressed her wish not to get married, but Jan disregarded her daughter’s feelings and insisted that the decision was not up to her. Although Jan faced cultural expectations from the Hazara community, the judge made it clear that such customs cannot be used as a mitigating factor in her sentencing. Jan, who fled Afghanistan with her family, would face deportation if sentenced to 12 months or more in prison. Despite this, Judge Dalziel emphasized that the punishment must reflect the seriousness of the offense to send a message that forced marriage is illegal in the country.
The judge sentenced Jan to three years in prison, but she will be released on a recognizance order after serving 12 months in custody. Initially refusing to sign the order, Jan’s son Taqi Haidari expressed shame at his mother’s imprisonment after losing his sister. The court made it clear that forced marriage is a serious offense that will not be tolerated, regardless of cultural expectations or potential deportation. Jan’s lack of contrition and failure to act in her daughter’s best interests were key factors in the judge’s decision, highlighting the importance of upholding the law and ensuring justice for victims of forced marriage.
Jan’s sentencing sends a clear message that forced marriage is illegal and will be punished accordingly. Despite facing deportation, the judge emphasized the need for a fitting punishment to reflect the severity of the offense. Jan’s lack of remorse and abuse of power as a mother were significant factors in her sentencing, highlighting the importance of ensuring justice for victims of forced marriage. The tragic outcome of Haidari and Halimi’s marriage serves as a reminder of the consequences of ignoring a person’s wishes and the importance of upholding the law to protect individuals from such situations in the future.
