Women’s Aid statement on the Mustafa Bahir case verdict

Monday 27th March 2017

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid said:

“The horrific assaults and controlling behaviour that Fakhara Karim endured are completely unacceptable; and a softer sentence on the basis that ‘she is not a vulnerable woman’ is shocking. It is a complete fallacy that only a certain type of woman can become a survivor of domestic abuse. In fact, perpetrators target women of all ages from all sections of society. Abusers often isolate their partners from family and friends, undermine their confidence or take control of their money as a way of ensuring they can control them. This is why it is so important for judges to understand the nature of domestic abuse and the impact on survivors. There should be zero tolerance of perpetrators and absolutely no excuses. That is why at Women’s Aid we work hard to raise awareness of domestic abuse and offer training for judges to understand the full implications.”

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