Student 'in hiding' after father threatens to kill her because of 'Westernised behaviour'

Barrister says the woman, in her twenties, was 'in fear for her safety'

(Getty Images)

A frightened student is at a “confidential address” after her father threatened to kill her because of her “Westernised behaviour”, a family court judge has been told.

The woman’s father had told her she needed to “die in a religious state” and “I am going to kill you”, Mr Justice Hayden heard. She called police and left the family home with the help of officers when her parents were out, her lawyer said. Details of the case emerged yesterday at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Barrister Katy Chokowry said the woman’s parents did not like her wearing leggings because they were “Western clothing”. She said the woman, in her twenties, who worked part-time at a McDonald’s to help her finance her studies, was “in fear for her safety”.

The threats were triggered when her parents discovered she had a boyfriend in Pakistan. Mr Justice Hayden was told that there were fears the woman would be made to marry “the son of a family friend”, and he made a forced marriage protection order.

PA