Father Locked up daughter for kissing; High Court orders Saudi Father To Return Daughter To UK

A Saudi father who allegedly locked his 21-year-old daughter up must return her to Britain; a High Court judge has ruled.

Amina Al-Jeffery, who grew up in Swansea and has dual British and Saudi nationality, moved to Jeddah with her family in 2012.   

She claimed her father, Mohammed Al-Jeffery, locked her up because she "kissed a guy."  

Mr. Justice Holman oversaw a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London last month.

During the hearing, the judge said Mr. Al-Jeffery had admitted locking his daughter in his flat when he went out.

It also emerged that Mr. Al-Jeffery has admitted previously having a "steel latticework" over windows to stop his daughter from shouting out.  

In his ruling, Mr. Justice Holman said he had concluded that Miss Al-Jeffery's freedom of movement had been severely constrained.

He added that she could be described as "caged" - although not literally "in a cage." 

"Current circumstances are such that this British citizen does require protection.

"She is currently in peril from which she requires to be rescued.

"To do nothing at all would, in my view, be dereliction towards Amina." 

The judge said that Mr. Al-Jeffery, an academic, should provide his daughter with her Saudi and British passports and pay her fare. 

While the judge said he had a "moral hold" over Mr. Al-Jeffery, he accepted there was little he could do to enforce his ruling. 

But should Mr Al-Jeffery return to Britain without complying, Mr. Justice Holman said he might face contempt of court proceedings.  

Speaking after the decision, solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson, who represented Miss Al-Jeffery said: "We have got exactly what we wanted."

Source: news.sky.com