A 21-year-old British-Saudi woman has launched a legal bid in London to protect her from her father, who she says imprisoned her in their home in Saudi Arabia after he saw her kissing a man.
Amina al-Jeffery claims that her father Mohammed, a Saudi academic, locked her up because she “kissed a guy”.
Mr Justice Holman, of the Family Division of the High Court in London, rejected an application lodged by the father to restrict what the media could report about the case.
“I provisionally feel that we – this state, this court – need to feel very concerned about the welfare of this British citizen,” the judge said.
Pleased to see limitations in reporting this lifted.
Man who 'imprisoned' daughter Amina al-Jeffery loses legal bid https://t.co/SymmeNX89g— Prof A.K.Gill PhD. CBE | Criminologist ⚖️✊🏽 (@DrAishaKGill) July 29, 2016
The judge heard that Amina al-Jeffery moved from Wales to Saudi Arabia with her father in 2012, while her mother and siblings remained in Swansea.
He said Mr Al-Jeffery had admitted locking his daughter in his flat when he went out, and that “he formerly had this very elaborate steel latticework over the windows so that she could not shout out through the window.”
British gov must repatriate British 21yr old Amina Al-Jeffery from abuse & risk of #forcedmarriage in #SaudiArabia https://t.co/lam0NbVXMO
— Deeyah Khan (@Deeyah_Khan) July 30, 2016
Those representing the young women said she had spoken to a staff at the British Consulate in Jeddah, apparently saying that her father had started “locking her in her room”, and her younger sister had been told she was an “evil girl”.
She also reportedly described “metal bars” on her bedroom and being a “locked-up girl with a shaved head”. Her father denies this.
Barrister Marcus Scott-Manderson QC, who is is representing Mr Al-Jeffery, said his client “doesn’t want to discuss Amina’s return [to the UK].” He added:
“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. The father says the British Government did nothing to help her. This is not a criticism of the British people but he says Amina is reckless and cannot help herself.”
But the judge replied that the man is “not seeing this situation through the right perspective quite frankly. This is a very serious situation.”
The hearing is set to continue next week.
