Sakina Muhammad Jan, 45, is charged with recklessly coercing her daughter Ruqia Haidari into a forced marriage, placing her in danger of death or serious harm.
Her committal hearing at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court has been slated to go for three days.
The accused has not entered a plea to the charge.
The first day of the hearing heard evidence from Shukria Muqadas, who spoke of how she knew Ms Haidari, whom “she thought of like a younger sister”, as well as the sister of Mohammad Ali Halimi, the man Ms Haidari married.
Ms Muqadas told how she was contacted by Mr Halimi’s sister, with whom she was friends in Pakistan, who told her that her brother in Perth was looking for a wife.
Ms Muqadas told how Ms Haidari, who was a Year 12 student at a Shepparton school at the time, initially said she did not want to get married until after she had graduated.
However, Ms Muqadas told the court Ms Haidari eventually agreed to her mother being spoken to about a marriage.
Mr Halimi came to Shepparton to meet Ms Haidairi and her family, with Ms Muqadas saying they only spent about half and hour alone together before Ms Haidairi’s family was asked to decide on their engagement.
The witness also spoke of two nikahs – a traditional Afghan ceremony to confirm a marriage – that were held, the first only two weeks after the pair met.
Ms Muqadas said before the second nikah, Ms Haidari had stopped responding to texts and calls from Mr Halimi, and on the day of the nikah she told Ms Muqadas she was not ready to get married.
However, Ms Muqadas told of later helping the accused organise her daughter’s wedding.
In August, Mr Halimi was convicted in Western Australia’s Supreme Court of murdering Ms Haidari, then aged 21, in January 2020 and sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 19 years.
The hearing continues.
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