Appeal Filed by Sakina Muhammad Jan in Forced Marriage Case

Sakina Muhammad Jan, the first person in Australia convicted of causing a forced marriage, is appealing her three-year prison sentence after her daughter, Ruqia Haidari, was murdered by her husband five months post-marriage. Jan's lawyer, Patrick Tehan KC, argues that the sentencing judge did not consider the impact of her daughter's death as additional punishment or Jan's traumatic background, including being married at 12 and losing family members to the Taliban. The court heard that Jan suffers from chronic PTSD and faces indefinite immigration detention due to her revoked visa. Tehan contended that Jan's sentence was excessive, proposing a re-sentencing to four months, already served, and possible community corrections. However, the appeal judges postponed their ruling and denied Jan bail, citing weak prospects for her appeal. The case highlights the complexities surrounding forced marriages and the legal implications of such cases in Australia.