Sara Sharif

Truly heartbreaking. I am glad that the Pakistani authorities forced them to return, and frankly, if they all blame each other, then they should all be found guilty. Those who failed to stop the attacks are as guilty as whoever carried them out.

On the point of home schooling; I am appalled by the lax regulations over this, anyone can just take their children out of school. When my children were at the local primary school there was a family who did this; they were themselves of low educational achievement, he was a lot older than her and appeared very controlling, the son who had behavioural difficulties lived on a diet of crap processed and takeaway food, had a playstation, no bedtimes.... (and was the envy of all his previous schoolmates!). How can barely literate parents be permitted to home school their children?

Sorry, off track of the OP of course, but connected.

The 5 children are between 1 and 13 years old.

Aveline

Those other children must be so distressed and confused. What must they have seen?! Just awful for them. Then uprooted with no notice and off to another country to be looked after by strangers.

There is family in Pakistan.

The grandfather initially was caring for the children when the 3 accused went on the run. In a Sky news report, the grandfather condemned what his family had done to Sara in a now public video and said they should be punished if they had done what was alleged.

However the authorities in Pakistan judged it better they were in care. but there is no recent information I can find as to whether they are still in care or whether the grandfathers request to look after them has been met..

I want to know what happened to this poor child’s mother as she was living with a step mother. Was she too murdered by the brute who ‘beat up’ his daughter repeatedly?

Those other children must be so distressed and confused. What must they have seen?! Just awful for them. Then uprooted with no notice and off to another country to be looked after by strangers.

I wonder how they will deal with the fact that the 3 are now all blaming each other. They have the father's written confession, and recorded, but he is now saying he wrote it to "protect" the others. The other 5 children, who might give information, are under child protective services in Pakistan.

They won't though.

They may have to be put into solitary for their own safety. I hope they do spend the rest of their lives in miserable solitary confinement with no contact with anyone except the prison officers.

Allira

That may be why neighbours did not report the screams they kept hearing - perhaps they were fearful of being labelled racist.

I would report, whether they were white or any other colour, rich or poor or anything!

Much better to be accused of racism or other prejudices than another child is needlessly murdered

BlueBelle

It is unfortunately happening in all cultures there have been so many cases lately of children and babies being beaten and tortured and many have been white with Uk families, and bruises and injuries have been hidden without hijabs
I am pleased the Pakistani government allowed them to be sent back here for trial and I hope they get life and I also hope they get beaten up inside the prison their lives over and they are scared for themselves

Me too!

That may be why neighbours did not report the screams they kept hearing - perhaps they were fearful of being labelled racist.

pieinthesky

There is no other word for this than appalling. It must be brought home that behaviour that may be acceptable in other countries is certainly not acceptable here. The school should have followed up the child’s absence and years ago this would have been chased up by the Education Welfare Officer appointed to the school by the local Education dept. Over the last 10 years or so I believe that schools have to fund their own Attendance Officer who seems often to be a member of the staff doing this on an Ad Hoc basis.It is quite possible then that her absence was not followed up or excused by assuming the family had gone to visit family abroad. Also when children are dressed in so called modest dress with arms and legs covered and do not changed for PE marks on their body can’t be noticed. They all three adults deserve life sentences meaning they stay in prison until they die. Even that is too good for them.

I totally agree with you but I know it won’t be the case, in fact I’d be surprised if they got ten years apiece and then they’d be out early for good behaviour.
It seems easy for parents to say they’re home schooling a child (and have it accepted easily) if the family are non British, so scared are authorities of being labelled racist.A total disgrace that this girl was never checked up on.

Lisaangel10

Little girls in UK state schools should not be allowed to wear hijabs in school.

I agree.
I don't think it's allowed in France, as are all religious symbols.

I was astonished to see the video of the police searching the family home; the interior was decorated and furnished in pale colours, appeared immaculate, not at all the sort of home that had housed five young children and three violent adults who had apparently left in a hurry to flee the country. As chilling as the details of the consistent abuse inflicted. it passes belief.

Little girls in UK state schools should not be allowed to wear hijabs in school.

Sorry Allira -I've called you allowance !

Allowance - I wonder how long the prison sentence will be .

Not long enough .

In some American States he'd get the death penalty .

Now he's going to be legally punished .

But not where near as harshly ☹

Heartbreaking .
I cried when I read about Sara .
I feel that she was let down by the system .
And her father thinks that he legally punished her .
Now he's going to be legally punished .

It must be harrowing to be sitting on that jury.

BlueBelle

It is unfortunately happening in all cultures there have been so many cases lately of children and babies being beaten and tortured and many have been white with Uk families, and bruises and injuries have been hidden without hijabs
I am pleased the Pakistani government allowed them to be sent back here for trial and I hope they get life and I also hope they get beaten up inside the prison their lives over and they are scared for themselves

If there is karma which am afraid there usually isn’t, the perps should suffer in prison in the same way that poor little girl suffered.

It is unfortunately happening in all cultures there have been so many cases lately of children and babies being beaten and tortured and many have been white with Uk families, and bruises and injuries have been hidden without hijabs
I am pleased the Pakistani government allowed them to be sent back here for trial and I hope they get life and I also hope they get beaten up inside the prison their lives over and they are scared for themselves

Wyllow3

FriedGreenTomatoes2

A 10-year-old girl subjected to “brutal abuse” by her father and step-mother before being found dead was forced to wear a hijab to school to hide her bruises, a court has heard.

This is common to all abusers of whatever culture - forcing the victim to conceal and lie, cover up, with threats.

Most cultures don’t make kids cover their faces though, unlike this poor little girl.

And this has happened again and again, with so many other cases just as tragic.

Don't want to get involved. Don't want to be called busybody.

Fleurpepper

Then it should NOT be allowed, unless properly monitored.

Again, neighbours heard, and knew- but did nothing. For fear of being called 'busy-bodies'.

That did shock me, after the terrible screams they heard.

Then it should NOT be allowed, unless properly monitored.

Again, neighbours heard, and knew- but did nothing. For fear of being called 'busy-bodies'.