BORIS URGED TO HELP ‘CAGED’ WELSH WOMAN
FOREIGN secretary Boris Johnson has been urged to secure the release of Amina al-Jeffery as fears grow that she is in “grave and immediate danger”.
The 21-year-old, who grew up in Swansea, claims to have been imprisoned in a cage by her father, Mohammed al-Jeffery, in Saudi Arabia.
A judge this week ordered him to return his daughter to the UK by September 11.
Al-Jeffery was reported to have locked Amina up.
Rights groups h a v e warned the Government against waiting until the deadline is reached, saying Amina’s life is at risk as long as she is in the country. Geraint Davies, Amina’s MP in Swansea, has written a letter to Johnson seeking “an air ticket, passport and safe passage home without delay”. “Amina may be at risk of being punished for bringing the case to light,” he told The Guardian. “I’m concerned the father, having lost the case, may act inappropriately. “Meanwhile, where is Boris and why hasn’t he said anything?” Welsh-born Amina says she was tricked into travelling to Jeddah in April 2012 before her 17th birthday. She believed she was going on holiday. Amina, who holds a Saudi passport as well as a UK one, has told how her father removed her from Wales because of “un-Islamic” behaviour.
She said he kept her in solitary confinement for four months after Saudi authorities arrested her for kissing an American, who has since been deported.
Last December she sent emails to her British lawyer claiming her father beat her, put bars on her bedroom door and denied her access to the bathroom, forcing her to urinate in a cup. He denies the allegations.
But more than 50 women’s rights groups and campaigners have signed a letter to the Foreign Office claiming the father “was refusing to co-operate with the consul in Jeddah”.
“Given the problems of enforcing this order in Saudi Arabia, we call upon the FCO to ensure that the order is complied with,” they said.
The London-based Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation helps victims of “honour” violence.
Director Diana Nammi, who signed the letter to Johnson, warned if Amina was not rescued now she could suffer.
“As soon as someone asks for help, the threat escalates,” she said. Ms Nammi also wants Amina’s father ex- tradited. “We must act now,” she said.
On Wednesday, Mr Justice Holman ruled at the high court’s family division in London that Amina was entitled to protection under British law.
Her father claimed her captivity was normal in Islamic Saudi.
Judge Holman ordered Mohammed al-Jeffery to give his daughter her passport and allow her to return to Britain within five weeks.
The judge acknowledged there are no mutual arrangements between the UK and Saudi Arabia. But he said he had a practical and moral hold over Amina’s father, whose wife and other eight children are still in Wales.
Pragna Patel, director of charity Southall Black Sisters, was unconvinced.
“By allowing the father time to bring her back in September, there is a complete disregard to the significant risk of harm she faces as each day goes by,” Ms Patel said.
“Yet again it would seem diplomatic and financial relations with the Saudis take precedence over gross human rights abuses.”
Amina’s father, who denies the allegations, said he took his “rebellious” daughter to Saudi Arabia because since 14 she had been drinking, clubbing, smoking marijuana and spending time with older men.
The 62-year-old could face contempt of court proceedings if he returns to the UK having not complied with the order.
Anne-Marie Hutchinson, representing his daughter, said there was no reason to assume he would not obey the court.
The Foreign Office confirmed they will continue raising the case with Saudi authorities. “We have been providing assistance to her since the case was first brought to our attention,” a spokesman said.