Death threat in Hindu-Muslim love saga in UK

Afshan Azad, 22, played the role of Padma Patil in “Harry Potter” movies, but in real life her family allegedly beat her and threatened to kill her for meeting a young man who was not a Muslim.

The Manchester Crown Court was told that she was assaulted and called a “prostitute” after meeting the Hindu man, a relationship which angered her father, Abul Azad, 53, and brother, Ashraf, 28.

The frightened actress later fled through her bedroom window after threats were made to kill her, reports from Manchester said. But despite attempts to get her to come to court for the trial of her father and brother, Azad would not attend voluntarily, the court was told.

Both men were charged with making threats to kill her and her brother was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his sister.

The prosecution on Monday  decided to accept a guilty plea of assault by her brother, and both men were formally found not guilty of making threats to kill.

Her father accepted to be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.
Her brother Ashraf Azad will be sentenced for the assault on January 21.

Richard Vardon, prosecuting lawyer, told the court: “The incident took place on May 21 at the home address of the family in Longsight, Manchester.

The prosecution allegation in essence is she was the victim of a wholly unnecessary and unpleasant assault by her brother”.

He added: “The reason for the assault, apparently her association with a Hindu young man, that apparently being disapproved of by her family who are Muslim.”