Man jailed after attempting to arrange separate forced marriages of kids, 15 and 17, who fled after learning of plot

Two teenage children fled their family home after learning their father was attempting to organise separate forced marriages for them, a court has been told. The teenager – aged 15 and 17 at the time – escaped from their father’s home in regional NSW after learning of the plot, prompting an investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in February 2022. The siblings had moved to Australia with their father, 51, in 2021. However upon arrival discovered their father was trying to organise their marriages against their wishes. While the teens weren’t sure who they would be marrying or when the weddings would be, police found messages and other evidence of wedding plans on mobile phones during a search warrant of the father’s home. AFP Commander Kate Ferry said human trafficking is underreported as young victims often don’t want their family to “’be in trouble’ with police”. “There are usually two types of forced marriages. One is where unwilling participants are threatened, deceived or coerced to enter a marriage. The other is where someone cannot legally consent to marriage due to their age,” Commander Ferry said. “This crime type is one that generally involves perpetrators offending against younger, more vulnerable family members.” The 51-year-old man pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting forced marriage in October 2023 after the case was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was sentenced to three years and four months in jail at the Downing Centre District Court on Friday. The 51-year-old has been given a non-parole period of one year and 11 months. AFP Sergeant Chantal Pravaz said the victims “placed their trust in the AFP”, with their “openness” assisting the investigation. “The AFP is here to help all victims of human trafficking and we will work tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of victims who seek to escape their situation,” Sergeant Pravaz said. “Forced marriage reports are treated on a case-by-case basis to ensure the most appropriate resolution for victims. Each case is treated with compassion, care and respect. “It is important to remember that not all reports result in a prosecution – sometimes we can get a positive result by helping a person leave a difficult situation, or by directly educating everyone involved so a marriage doesn’t occur.” The AFP have received 91 reports of forced marriage allegations over the 2023-24 financial year. Friday’s conviction follows the jail of Victorian woman Sakina Muhammad Jan, 48, after coercing her 21-year-old daughter Ruqia Haidari into marriage. The mother, who will spend at least one year in prison, was the first person jailed in Australia under new laws criminalising forced marriages. Ms Haidari was murdered by her husband shortly after the marriage, and he will spend at least 19 years in prison following a separate criminal case.