Woman’s family charged with forcing her into marriage with alleged murderer
The family of a young Shepparton woman who was allegedly murdered by her husband have been charged over their involvement in the marriage.
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Forced marriage charges have been laid against the family of a young Victorian woman allegedly murdered by her new husband.
The 21-year-old Shepparton woman was fatally attacked at a home in Perth in January – just weeks after her alleged arranged marriage to 25-year-old Uber driver Mohammad Ali Halimi..
Australian Federal Police on Tuesday charged three people from Shepparton over their alleged role in the marriage.
A 44-year-old woman and 22-year-old man, both direct family members, and a 30-year-old Shepparton woman were charged with causing a person to enter a forced marriage.
The charge has only ever been used once before in Victoria.
The Herald Sun understands the 30-year-old woman is alleged to have orchestrated the marriage.
She and the male co-accused appeared before Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where they were bailed to reappear at a later date.
The 44-year-old woman was scheduled to front the same court on Wednesday.
The AFP have said the 20-year-old woman sought help from police the month before the alleged forced marriage took place.
In August 2019 she met with AFP Human Trafficking detectives and told them her family was threatening her into marrying her accused killer, an AFP statement said.
“She was offered police intervention and protection, emergency safety planning and alternative accommodation via the Red Cross Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP).”
However she was allegedly coerced into the marriage which took place in Shepparton in November 2019.
“The AFP allege the woman did not freely consent to this marriage. The woman then travelled to Western Australia to live with her husband,” the statement read.
She was found fatally wounded at her new home in Balcatta in Perth on January 18 and later died at Royal Perth Hospital.
Halimi reportedly led police to her after showing up at a local police station covered in blood.
AFP Southern Command Acting Commander Investigations Jayne Crossling said: “This is a particularly tragic example of a vulnerable victim in an alleged forced marriage situation, and underscores why the AFP dedicates significant resources to this issue nationally”.
“We understand that removing a person from an anticipated forced marriage situation, or interceding with family members without the consent of the victim can risk creating a more harmful domestic situation for a vulnerable person.
“The AFP’s position is to accommodate the person’s wishes with their overall welfare in mind. However, we want victims to know that the AFP, and its partners, can assist victims, offer protection and intervene, where appropriate, through a range of mechanisms including border alerts and court orders.”
Acting Commander Crossling thanked members of the local Afghan community for their help in the investigation.
“Human Trafficking including forced marriage does not discriminate. This issue goes beyond borders or religious affiliation. Victims of human trafficking can be male or female, adults or children and come from all walks of life, community, nationality and culture,” she said.
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