How could we have let Sara down so badly?

BlueBelle

Don’t forget the poor little girl was taken away from her European white mother and given to her father because she abused her
That poor child knew nothing but abuse in her short life There has GOT to be more intervention in suspected cases of abuse people visiting the home regularly and definitely no home schooling I think that is a real curse
Little Isobella was white British as was her mother and boyfriend, abuse knows no colours, no cultures, it is happening in all countries, cultures, religions

It has to be brought under control

Is that an established fact, though? Or did the father blame the mother for abuse Sara suffered so that he could gain custody?

I di think the older brother needs urgent help which he will not receive while he I with the grandfather. The judge said:
There was a suggestion during the trial that you may have recruited your oldest son to assist with the torture of Sara, but I cannot be satisfied that this happened. Nevertheless, it is clear that your older son was encouraged to bully Sara because you made clear to him that she was inferior to him;

That is very concerning.

I’ve read the sentencing remarks/judgement. It increases the horror we know this little girl suffered. My reading of it suggests The Judge does mean culture not only family culture . He concludes Sara was seen as less important as a girl, than was her brother who shared her parentage.

Clearly Sharif thought he could do what he wanted to his daughter and that included violence and torture. That's not just misogyny it goes way beyond that. Religion and culture are not synonymous, they form a framework for beliefs and practices but they differ in scope, origin and influence.
I've no problem with describing Sharif's beliefs that he was superior and his female family members were expected to do as they were told as the family culture but I do have a problem in suggesting that the violence inflicted by him on his daughter would be seen as an acceptable part of the culture in Pakistani or Muslim families generally.
There is currently a thread about the poor safeguarding practices of the church of England. The culture of the hierarchy would appear to be one of ignoring abuse and allowing abusers to continue their abuse. Does this mean that Christianity promotes abuse? No of course not! Let's not mix up culture and religion they are not the same.

I do have a problem in suggesting that the violence inflicted by him on his daughter would be seen as an acceptable part of the culture in Pakistani or Muslim families generally

I suppose this is the nature of " othering" and racism. One person behaves in this way, so they must all be like that.

I don’t have a problem in saying abuse is not part of any culture /faith

It upsets me too much to read about these cases and to comment, but now the perpetrators are locked up for good, can someone explain to me ....

Why did the school not pick up the phone to the police? You're allowed to do that for sure.
Why did The Head not get in the car and visit a police station to raise concerns?
What puzzles me, is that if the evidence that abuse was taking place before Sara was removed from school was obvious, and the social worker did not respond immediately, then why did someone at the school not take the initiative?

Iam64

I’ve read the sentencing remarks/judgement. It increases the horror we know this little girl suffered. My reading of it suggests The Judge does mean culture not only family culture . He concludes Sara was seen as less important as a girl, than was her brother who shared her parentage.

Having read the whole judgement now, I agree with your understanding of the judge’s comments Iam. I think that is what he meant.

I don’t think it relevant what we individually think, what we are discussing is what the judge meant.
I think we all know that it is not the culture of all Pakistanis to treat their girls/women this way, but we cannot say that because we don’t think it, this is not what the judge meant.

I have been told that the judge involved is an extremely nice person. I’m sure he weighed up the words he used very carefully.

Iam64

I’ve read the sentencing remarks/judgement. It increases the horror we know this little girl suffered. My reading of it suggests The Judge does mean culture not only family culture . He concludes Sara was seen as less important as a girl, than was her brother who shared her parentage.

Yes, I read it as that way too.

I only skim read the sentencing remarks, so harrowing. But there was a culture that girls were inferior to boys and the suggestion (not proven) that the brother may have been enlisted to help in the abuse of Sara.
Sara was apparently a feisty little girl, still seemed to be happy despite the earlier beatings and obviously did not 'know her place'.

Culture does not have exactly the same definition as religion, although related.

The step mother , what could she have done to save Sara

We listened to the judge pass sentence over the absolutely appalling life that poor littlr girl had endured and I wept .

I was pleased to hear the father got a minimum of 40 years but think the death penalty would have been better. With a bit of luck the other prisoners will make his time hell.

Death is a quick way out, he will be 82 before he can think of parole, should he live 40 years

I hope he suffers for every single day of every one of those years...

Anniebach

The step mother , what could she have done to save Sara

She inflicted some of the horrific wounds.

Poor little girl, sometimes she was allowed to be with the rest of her family, one minute happy, the next hit. She must have thought that was the norm.
That was before they decided to really torture her and make her life one of pain, fear and hell.

Sara Sheriffs father has been injured in jail he has wounds and cuts to his face and neck I believe

Here’s the link
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2exl843edmo

Yes I saw this on the news, I guess it was inevitable