Refugee’s honour beating streamed
A teenage refugee was subjected to protracted, live-streamed beatings by her family after supposedly bringing shame on them, a court has heard.
“What’s just absolutely appalling is that she was hit so many times she couldn’t tell the police even an approximate number of blows she’d received,” Judge Kevin Phillips said.
The victim’s mother appeared in the Dunedin District Court last year where she was sentenced to seven months’ home detention. On Thursday, the girl’s father received nine months on house arrest after he pleaded guilty to two charges of procuring the attacks while he was working in the North Island. The couple were given name suppression to protect their daughter.
Tensions increased when the teenager began a romantic relationship with another young refugee and it progressed faster than the parents wanted. The defendant video-called her husband and voiced her concerns the girl’s conduct was bringing shame on their family. The father
The defendant yelled at the victim through the live video that she deserved the beating.
then instructed his wife and sons to beat the victim.
The woman held her cellphone so her husband could watch the pummelling, which he “directed and encouraged”. “The defendant yelled at the victim through the live video and audio feed that she deserved the beating,” court documents said.
Two days later, the victim’s mother again took issue with her behaviour. Again, she called her husband for advice and he told them to confiscate her phone and give her a hiding.
The teenager received “significant” bruising from the dual bashing but said in a statement to the court she was not affected by what happened.
She wanted the family reunited and was not scared there would be a repeat of the violence.
Refugees as Survivors New Zealand chief executive Sharron Ward condemned violence against children but said the public needed to better understand the refugee journey.
“We bring these people into New Zealand . . . they’ve been through a lot of trauma and they need support.”