FOUR MEMBERS OF the same family in England have been jailed for assaulting a 16-year-old boy, who was from a different cultural background, after he had a relationship with one of their relatives.
The four men, Mirza Baig, 48, Ghazanfar Mirza, 38, Saqib Mirza Baig, 29, and Khizum Baig, 29, all pleaded guilty to affray.
In addition, Ghazanfar Mirza pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, Saqib Mirza Baig to unlawful wounding and Khizum Baig to assault causing actual bodily harm.
The incident happened in March 2016 after the family found out that the victim was in a relationship with a girl in their family.
Ghazanfar Mirza stopped his car in the middle of East Park Road in Blackburn, Lancashire, where the victim was walking and persuaded him to get into the vehicle.
He drove at speed and verbally abused the boy.
He called the other three defendants and asked them to bring weapons to a meeting point on Holly Street where Saqib Baig was waiting.
When Ghazanfar and the victim arrived at the location, Saqib Baig punched the boy several times in the face and stomach through the car window.
Khizum Baig and Mirza Baig arrived a short time later when they repeatedly hit and kicked the boy’s body and head.
All four defendants appeared in court in February, where they all pleaded guilty.
Annabelle Hartley from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This was a pre-planned and unprovoked attack on a boy as he walked in the street.
This violence was motivated by so called honour and racism.
“Although the victim and his girlfriend had been together for some time, they had endeavoured to keep their relationship secret, particularly from their families,” Hartley said.
“The CPS and police are committed to tackled so-called honour-based crime. Those who are responsible can expect to be brought before the courts.”
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