Man sentenced to 2 years in jail for using his wife as a maid

London’s Woolwich Crown Court heard that 34 year old Safraz Ahmed, kept his wife, 28 year old Sumara Iram, a prisoner in their home. The courts heard that he verbally and physically abused her after an arranged marriage in Pakistan.

Ahmed who is a mechanic in Southeast London forced his wife, to cook, clean and look after his mother from 5am to midnight every day after the mother-in-law moved to England in 2012.

She said he also slapped her in the face when she asked him to consummate their marriage. She said one time he threw tins of cat food at her head and another time he covered her face with a cushion.

Iram who had a master’s degree in Islamic Studies, was not permitted to leave the house alone and took an overdose before eventually calling the emergency services in 2014, the court heard.

Ahmed was found guilty of holding a person in domestic servitude, Judge Christopher Hehir told him: “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 was right.”

He was sentecnced to 2 years in jail.
Ahmed became the first in England to be convicted of keeping his wife “in domestic servitude”.

The couple are now divorced.
Source: AFP