Wife’s Western dress sparks assault by traditionalist husband

A GEELONG West man has admitted assaulting his wife after accusing her of disrespecting him and their religion by wearing Western clothing, instead of traditional Pakistani Islamic attire.

Muazzam Shahid, 35, grab- bed the woman by the hair and threw her on to a bed at a home in Geelong West after finding her socialising with neighbours wearing leggings and other non-Pakistani clothes, the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

“What gives you the right, in Australia, to assault your wife and tell her how to dress,” Magistrate Frank Jones asked the former taxi driver.

Shahid, who appeared in court wearing a business shirt, blue jeans and black puffer vest, expressed remorse for his actions and pleaded guilty to unlawful assault.

He said he had apologised to his wife and told her “what I did was wrong, and you have every right to dress how you want and do what you want as a human being”.

He said he had started relationship counselling, was on antidepressant medication and was seeking help after being a victim of workplace bullying.

His wife, wearing a long scarf over her head, confirmed her husband’s remorse.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Capuano told the court the woman’s ribs were hurt by the assault.

When questioned, Shahid said: “Ï just pulled her hair and threw her. She was disrespecting her religion and disrespecting me,” Sen-Constable Capuano said

After finding out he had lived here for eight years but was not a permanent resident, Mr Jones warned the migrant “you want to be careful”.

“People now who do things like this can get a free trip back home,” he said.

Mr Jones accepted he was “repentant”, ordering he serve a 12-month good behaviour bond and not be convicted.