Azizur Rahman and Shohad Miah deny kidnap
The estranged wife of a man accused of kidnapping an Imam denied he threatened to kill her after she asked the alleged victim to help her son get rid of a ‘spirit in his body’.
The 87-year-old was bundled into a car in September last year, before he was repeatedly punched, hit with a stick and strangled, prosecutors allege.
He was stripped of his clothes, leaving him in just his underwear, before he was dumped on a dark, quiet road in West Yorkshire, jurors were previously told.
Manchester Crown Court heard he had been asked by a woman to help her child, so he gave them an ‘Taweez’ or ‘amulet’ for protection.
The woman’s former husband, Azizur Rahman, 40, and another man, Shohad Miah, 24, allegedly kidnapped the elderly man after Mr Rahman learned he had been at his home.
Mr Miah is alleged to have been the driver, while Mr Rahman is alleged to have carried out the majority of the assault. Days after the alleged attack, they ‘set fire’ the car used to abduct the man, prosecutors said.
The court heard Mr Rahman allegedly told his estranged wife: “W***e, you are a prostitute. If I’m going down or this, I will kill you and go down for life – I will ruin your life.”
Giving evidence, Shulika Ara said she had been in a relationship for 18 years and separated in December 2023. She said she had another child from a previous relationship, who was 18 at the time.
Asked by the prosecutor if he had mental health difficulties, she said: “He was possessed. A jinn was in his body.” She explained to jurors that a ‘jinn’ is a ‘threat’.
“I got the mosque Imam to try and help him get the spirit out of his body,” she added. “I explained the situation about my son. He gave me three conditions, he asked me for gold and took £500 off me then he came and gave my son some spiritual water and oil.”
She said she picked the man up from his house and drove him to her home before he began reciting prayers, along with six or seven people who were also in the house.
Ms Ara added: “Five minutes later, my son’s body was showing signs of possession and he gave water to the body to get the spirit out. He pinned him down and spit in his ears about six or seven times. He left the property without getting the spirit out.”
It was put to her that in her witness statement, she had told her husband about the visit and about her son’s mental health issues. She denied that.
Asked if her statement was true, she said: “It’s not true. The statement was made when I was on anxiety and depression medication. He [the victim] gave me spiritual water to take.
“Were you lying in your statement?” the prosecutor. “No, they’re not lies, I was on anxiety and depression medications. I was being blackmailed by him [the victim],” Ms Ara said.
It was put to her that in a second statement, made on September 22 last year, she told the police that during a phone call with Mr Rahman, he told her: “W****. You are a prostitute. If I’m going down for this, I’m going to kill you and do a life sentence. I will ruin your life.”
She said she was on anxiety and depression medication at the time and claimed that the elderly victim was ‘blackmailing her’. “He said to me, if you do not give evidence, I will put the spirit back in his body,” she told jurors.
“Did your husband make those threats to kill you or not?” the prosecutor asked. “No,” said the witness.
In cross examination by Mr Rahman’s barrister, Barry Grennan asked the woman how long her son had been suffering with mental health issues.
“It was since he was possessed,” she said. “Who told you he was possessed – the Imam?” asked Mr Grennan. “Yes,” Ms Ara replied.
Mr Rahman of Bluebell Walk, St Mary’s Way; and Mr Miah, of Firbank Road, Royton, deny offences of kidnap, causing grievous bodily harm, non-fatal strangulation, robbery and perverting the course of justice. Mr Rahman, denies further offences of threatening the man with a blade and making threats to kill the woman.
Proceeding
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