.... Amina Al-Jeffery was born in Swansea but was taken to Saudi Arabia aged 16 because her academic father objected to her western lifestyle. She has since been held captive in her father’s home in Jeddah, the family division of the High Court was told yesterday.
.... Anne-Marie Hutchinson, a British lawyer, said that she had spoken to Miss Al-Jeffery when she briefly escaped from her father’s home. “She is a normal Welsh girl and still has her Welsh accent,” said Ms Hutchinson, a member of the international Academy of Family Lawyers. “She wants to return home so she can have control of her own life and make her own choices.”
Mr Justice Holman said that the jurisdiction of the British courts was not clear because Miss Al-Jeffery was now an adult with dual Saudi and UK citizenship. He said: “We have to be careful about asserting the supremacy of our cultural standards.”
[TOP RATED COMMENT 39 votes] "We have to be careful about asserting the supremacy of our cultural standards.” Why?
[3ND 24] Good question. The Saudi authorities will have no doubt about the "supremacy" of their cultural standards, and this means the male relative is able to dictate all decisions relating to his daughter.
As she has UK citizenship she should be treated as a British citizen and have her wishes represented more seriously than Justice Holman seems to be able.
[2ND 30] We have to be careful about asserting the supremacy of our cultural standards.”
I think Mr Justice Holman should be kept in a cage for such a defeatist attitude. Our cultural standards are superior to one where a father thinks its ok to keep his daughter in a cage. [The Times (£)] Read more
