Man & Family subjected Wife to Honour-based Violence

A husband and four relatives have been sentenced for subjecting his wife to honour-based violence.

Between October 2017 and April 2019, the woman was subjected to forced servitude and coercive behaviour at their shared family home.

Following an arranged marriage in Pakistan, Mohammed-Shuaib Arshid moved to Hillingdon, London with his new wife.

They lived in a house shared with his father Arshid Sadiq, his mother Nabila Shaheen, his brother Aqeel Arshid and his sister Zaib Arshid.

Whilst living in the family home, the victim was regularly subjected to controlling and coercive behaviour.

This included not being allowed to use her mobile phone without permission, leave the house on her own or have access to her personal identity documents.

The woman was also denied the opportunity to attend college.

The family denied her access to money and she resorted to begging her husband for money for basic toiletries.

She was also held in servitude and forced to cook and clean throughout the day before being allowed to go to bed.

During this period, the five family members regularly physically and mentally abused the victim, causing her long-term physical and psychological harm.

The abuse included threats to kill her and forcing her to drink engine oil.

Mohammed-Shuaib Arshid was arrested and released on bail.

During his time on bail, he committed a separate offence of false imprisonment targeted towards another member of the public and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

All five defendants entered not guilty pleas.

But earlier in 2023, they were convicted for controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship and holding a person in slavery or servitude.

Mohammed-Shuaib Arshid, aged 28, was sentenced to three years imprisonment, to run consecutively to the eight-year custodial sentence imposed for falsely imprisoning a separate victim.

Arshid Sadiq, aged 54, was jailed for seven years and three months.

Nabila Shaheen, aged 56, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

Aqeel Arshid, aged 32, was sentenced to 21 months, suspended for 18 months.

Zaib Arshid, aged 27, was sentenced to 21 months, suspended for 18 months.

All five family members were also made subject to an indefinite restraining order, preventing any further contact with the victim. They were all also deprived of their mobile phones.

Paul Jenkins, a Senior District Crown Prosecutor for the CPS said:

“The victim believed that they were moving into a safe family home with a loving husband, but the subsequent actions of Mohammed Shuaib Arshid, Arshid Sadiq, Nabila Shaheen, Aqeel Arshid and Zaib Arshid proved that this was not the case.

“The victim was subject to regular abuse whilst under their care, resulting in serious physical and psychological harm.

“This case demonstrates the willingness of the CPS to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and our commitment to protect those who have been subject to controlling or coercive situations, securing protective orders wherever possible.”

A CPS spokesperson said “Being the victim of violence or sexual assault is undoubtedly a harrowing experience – but when this abuse is ‘honour-based’, the challenges can often feel impossible to overcome.

“If someone is seen to have dishonoured or brought shame on a family or community, they can be ‘punished’ through threatening behaviour, rape, kidnap, false imprisonment, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and even murder – also known as honour killings.

“Honour-based abuse cases are some of the most complex the Crown Prosecution Service deals with.”

“We know much of this abuse takes place in familial settings and tight-knit communities, often making it incredibly difficult for victims to come forward to report.

“We want to support victims of this unacceptable violence; both honour-based abuse and forced marriage are illegal, and where our legal test is met, we will not hesitate to prosecute.

“We can protect potential victims through anonymity, forced marriage protection orders and extra-territorial jurisdiction over offences committed abroad.

“Whether you are a victim, or suspect you know someone who is, we would encourage you to come forward and report it.

“Victims of this devastating crime deserve justice and you could help other potential victims.”