Devout Shia Muslim sentenced over ritual flogging
Sentence was handed down to Syed Mustafa Zaidi at Manchester crown court
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Wednesday, 24, Sep 2008 07:26
A man has been given a suspended sentence after being found guilty of child cruelty for forcing two teenage brothers to ritually flog themselves during a Shia Muslim ceremony.
Syed Mustafa Zaidi, 44, of Station Road, Eccles, was found guilty at Manchester crown court last month over the incident, which occurred during the Ashura festival in January this year.
And today he was given a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for a year.
In a landmark case, jurors heard how Zaidi forced two children, aged 15 and 13 at the time, to flagellate themselves with a Zangeer Zani – a specialist whip comprising a wooden handle attached to a number of chains with curved blades at the ends.
The flagellation was stopped by other members of the community centre on Park Grove in Levenshulme, while the matter was referred to Greater Manchester police (GMP) when the boys' mother discovered the deep wounds on their backs and multiple slash wounds.
Ashura is a 40-day festival to commemorate the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad at the battle of Karbala, during which Shia Muslims use the Zangeer Zani to flagellate themselves.
After Zaidi was found guilty, UK prosecutors responded to the verdict by insisting the law was there to protect children.
"The [crown prosecution service] wishes to make it clear that this prosecution was not an attack upon the practices or ceremonies of Shia Muslims. Indeed, the prosecution relied as part of its evidence upon the president of the local Shia community centre," said Carol Jackson of Manchester CPS.
"The law exists to protect the young from harm or being exposed to harm. In this case, both boys were made to take part in the ritual flagellation and suffered injuries to their backs."
GMP Superintendent Nadeem Butt added: "This man not only abused the vulnerability of these children but also went against the wishes of his own community, as well as knowingly breaking the law.
"The sensitivities this case raises - both legal and cultural - are significant.
"We are aware of the community's concerns about how this case could be portrayed, and have been working closely with community leaders throughout the process."
In addition to the suspended sentence for Zaidi, a second order - which will also last for 12 months - means if he is found to have allowed or encouraged anyone under the age of 16 to beat themselves he could be returned to court for further sentencing.