We have often discussed the relatively low sentences handed out in some English cases. While our country goes to the opposite extreme, it sometimes shocks the conscience to see disproportionately light sentences. One such case is that of Ilyas and Tallat Ashar who brought a 10-year-old girl to England where she was repeatedly raped, kept in appalling conditions against her will, and used as more of a slave than a servant. That was roughly a decade of abuse. However, Ilyas Ashar, 84, who was found guilty of 13 counts of rape, was jailed for 13 years. That is roughly a year for year of confinement, rape, and abuse. Tallat Ashar, 68, convicted of benefit fraud and trafficking, got only five years.
While the sentence will likely result in his dying in prison given his age, it is still a sentence that seems modest in comparison to the list of wrongs done to this child. If there were a case for a life sentence, it would seem to be the trafficking of a child to be raped and effectively enslaved for roughly a decade. The girl, from Pakistan, is also deaf and cannot speak.
The two then claimed years of benefits for the child as she was used as house servant and forced to live in the cellar.
Judge Peter Lakin acknowledged that the couple showed no remorse and that the girl was “exploited. . . physically, mentally and economically.” For “consigned her to a life of misery and degradation” Lakin gave them 13 and 5 year terms. He noted that the two are “deeply unpleasant, highly manipulative and dishonest people.” By the way, their biological daughter Faaiza Ashar, 46, was given only a 12-month community order with 300 hours of unpaid work for benefit fraud.
Do you consider these sentences to be sufficiently high given the rape and abuse of this disabled girl?
Western European sentences are notoriously light, probably due to the lower recidivist rate there as compared to the States. A prediction: As the recidivist rate in Western Europe rises so will the length of the sentences imposed in those countries.
Good grief. I’ve got three non-verbal children. I can’t adequately describe the horror this makes me feel.
Laserhass,
I couldn’t say it better…… If it were my daughters…… I think I would be very justified in assuring that these folks swam with the sea urchins…..not to disrespect sea urchins….
We would be better off if we categorized those places like Pakistan and other backward nations as Pirate Territories. Do not let any of them come in to the U.S. and have no trade or tourism with them by our people. If you must fly over then please flush.
There are other facets to this. The justice system is always faced with the results of severe sentences. If these animals were to understand that they might face a proper sentence of mandatory life in prison, they might let this influence them to simply do away with the victim. In a great many situations where an innocent victim is involved saving the victim takes precedent over punishing the criminals.
These animals are beyond approach in any event. They are simply that, animals that can love their own kind but see and treat other humans in ways that more evolved societies see as reprehensible. Some use quasi religious arguments, some refer to tradition and cast, all are sub human.
The shortcoming of the judge was to not convict the daughter for complicity and sentence her to a minimum of ten years and the wife for at least twenty years. This would have been enough but not too much.
All in all, there is nothing you can do with these sort of animals and unfortunately there are countries and religions supporting this behavior. The solution is to be found in India, Pakistan, and the other backward nations that continually permit this.
I hope those 13 years are absolute hell for those people, they definitely deserve worse.
In addition to any prison sentence these people should have to forfeit every cent they have or ever will have. It should be used for the rehabilitant of the victim.
She was admitted into the UK as a “domestic servant” even though she was only 10 years old–its seems that should have raised a red flag upon initial entry. Other reports indicate that she did not go to school, was unable to read or write, and was cross-examined in the criminal proceedings for 34 days.
The so-called adults should be in jail until the sun no longer shines. Unless the judge was restricted by law on the sentences, he should be ashamed. Disgusting.
Rape sentencing guidelines:
“Type/nature of activity: Repeated rape of same victim over a course of time or rape involving multiple victims
Starting points: 15 years custody
Sentencing ranges: 13 – 19 years custody”
The only statuotary mitigating circumstance (“the victim engaged in consensual sexual activity with the offender on the same occasion and immediately before the offence”) is non appliable here; I suppose the judge didn’t want the perp to die in jail but the other culprits have not such problems.
And there is also disturbingly low sentences in cases of kidnapping-rape-torture in the US: see the Edward Bagley case (sentenced to 20 years), and especially his accomplices, who got five years>/i> (his wife got probation.); one of the conspirators faced more time for gun-running than for trafficking his victim; such sentences are very surprising as the juristiction which issued these sentences gave 55 years to Weldon Angelos and 150 years to Madoff.
What sentence should the U.S.A. military get for raping the young world?
I agree with Tony Sideaway above. However, private retribution is a bit different that what the state does. I would hope that each of them gets raped once a day for the remainder of their lives. He in the uttBay and she in the uttBay because you would not get any takers if they had to look at her face up.
How many years would you desire the guy to get;
if it were your daughter?
It should be a LIFE sentence for ANYONE who raped a 10 year old girl
PERIOD….
savage (BS) sentences of 150 yrs on Madoff – is just that (BS)
I think it’s more an indictment of the pointless savagery of American sentences that a thirteen-year sentence looks unduly light by comparison.
“Do you consider these sentences to be sufficiently high given the rape and abuse of this disabled girl?” – JT
Each society can figure its own way.
Having said that, each society will have to pay for its own mistakes for being too lenient or too harsh.
I am minding my own business on this.
Guy is 84 years old. Not much point in sentencing him to more than 13 years in prison. It’s basically a life sentence. And if he is still living at 97, the cost of keeping him in prison would be multiple times greater than in some assisted living or nursing home.
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.
No!!
As recently reported of me (by PoliticusUSA.com story on my Romney RICO litigation) – I’m magnanimous to a fault; about how much time people should serve on their Ponzi schemes etc.
But that is of “civil” case issues!
When it comes to crimes against liberty and physical well being; I’m on the other end of that spectrum. I HATE BULLIES. No matter what their reasons – having been abused, bullied or what have you; physical abuse of another is INTOLERABLE.
Am I the only one who wishes I could have been there – not only to save the sweet innocent child – But to also beat these till they sincerely say they are sorry for daring to do what they did?
My limits of civility go out the window with this stuff.
Especially when its children.
I’m weeping about this and also pissed that the sentences will have no dispositive effect of warning future assaulting parties not to do so.