Sunday, November 01, 2015

Inquest Finds UK Model Hung Herself to Avoid Forced Marriage

  • Nadia Menaz found dead at her home in Oldham, Greater Manchester
  • Model and wedding planner died five months after taking out court order to stop her family from forcing her to marry 
  • Mother-of-one had already married her husband in Islamic ceremony but her parents disapproved of relationship, inquest told
  • Hearing told Ms Menaz had 'very strained' relationship with her parents and suffered from depression before her death
Model Nadia Menaz (pictured) was found hanged after fearing she was about to be forced into an arranged marriage by her Muslim parents, an inquest heard
Model Nadia Menaz (pictured) was found hanged after fearing she was about to be forced into an arranged marriage by her Muslim parents, an inquest heard
A model was found hanged after fearing she was about to be forced into an arranged marriage by her Muslim parents, an inquest heard.

Nadia Menaz, 24, was found dead at her home in Oldham, Greater Manchester in May, five months after taking out a court order to stop her family from forcing her to marry.

The mother-of-one had already married husband Umar Rasool in an Islamic ceremony, but her family did not approve of him and the union was not recognised under English law, Oldham Coroner's Court heard.

The hearing was told that Ms Menaz had a 'very strained' relationship with her parents. 

She had also suffered depression, and had self harmed, as well as cutting off her hair.

Ms Menaz, a former army cadet who had wanted to join the police but started modelling after leaving home at 16, had met Mr Rasool, 25, in 2010.

They began dating and had kept their relationship hidden from her parents until they married in an Islamic ceremony in April 2011.

 The marriage was never formally confirmed under English law, but the couple had a daughter who was born in March 2012.

In December last year, Ms Menaz took out a forced marriage protection order at the Family Court in Manchester against her father Sabir Hussain, 60, her mother Ruksana Kousar, 55, and three of her eight siblings. 

According to government guidelines, the legislation protects women if they are being threatened with a forced marriage or are already within a forced marriage.

At inquest, Mr Hussain and Mrs Kousar denied attempting to force Ms Menaz into marriage and initially claimed they were unaware of the forced marriage protection order.

However, when questioned further they admitted they were aware of the order, before claiming their daughter had been murdered by a 'third party.'

Coroner Simon Nelson said Mr Hussain had made it clear in a statement he gave to police that he had issues over Ms Menaz's relationship with Mr Rasool.

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