A six-and-a-half year prison sentence given to a man who mowed down his sister-in-law has been branded as "sick".

Women's groups hit out after father-of-four Shahir Hussain had his life-term sentence slashed.

A spokeswoman for Keighley Domestic Violence Forum said today the sentence given to Hussain for killing Bradford woman Tasleem Begum by driving over her, gave a message that "Asian women's lives are cheap."

Her comments were made as Hussain's solicitor, Rashid Majid, said that his client could be eligible for parole as early as next year.

The trial of 32-year-old Hussain ended dramatically when his plea of guilty to manslaughter on grounds of provocation was accepted by the prosecution.

He had denied murdering Tasleem, 20, who died after Hussain's car hit her as she stood on a street corner waiting for her lover on June 15, 1995.

The Court was told that Tasleem's relationship with her lover had brought shame to her family and her mother was desperate for her to end the affair.

The family crisis reached a climax when Tasleem's brother-in-law Hussain ran her down He then reversed over her and then drove over her again before speeding off.

Hussain, of Fitzroy Road, Bradford, was told by Judge David Hodson at Newcastle Crown Court that he would have to live with what he had done on his conscience for the rest of his life.

But Shamshad Hussain, of Keighley Domestic Violence Forum, said the sentence sent a message to men that they could kill women and then plead diminished responsibility.

She said: "We are disgusted at the inadequacy of the legal system to provide justice for Asian women.

"This is not justice for Tasleem Begum, she was killed in a horrific way because she had hurt a man's pride. It says Asian women's lives are cheap.

"Compare this to the case of Zoora Shah who is serving a life sentence for fighting back against years of torture and sexual abuse by a man."

Nejmah Mir, chairman of the newly-formed Pakistani Women's Forum, said: "People will be sickened by this verdict. It sends out a message that it's OK if you don't agree with something, to commit a crime.

"It is not setting a good example at all.

"The girl should not have been having an affair, but she was placed in an impossible situation. If you are in a loveless marriage it is natural to find that love from someone else.

Sharanjit Boughan, of the Asian Women's Monitoring Group, said the case showed the Asian community needed a support network so incidents like this did not happen.

"A lot of lessons need to be learnt and Asian women need as much support as other people," she said.

The court had heard how Hussain was in an angry mood after Tasleem started an affair with a colleague at work.

Roger Keene, QC, prosecuting, said after the plea change: "We are not in a position to dispute any words spoken by the deceased immediately before the killing.

"The family as a whole, including the defendant, had been distressed for some time about the behaviour of the deceased."

Mukhtar Hussain, QC, defending, said: "The deceased's parents live and have lived with the defendant and his wife and he will have to live with the consequences as will they.

"He is a man who came from Pakistan. The rest of the family have been living in this country for a long period of time.

"With his culture and religion, any sentence in custody is going to be that much harsher.

"On that afternoon, his was a complete, but sudden loss of self control, followed by blind panic."

Hussain fled the country and went back to Pakistan before returning voluntarily to England.

"He could have stayed in Pakistan and there is no extradition," said his barrister. "Had he chosen to remain, he could not have been brought back to this country.

"His voluntary return carries a greater weight than usual in those circumstances."

Passing sentence, Judge Hodson said he bore in mind that Hussain had been found guilty of the murder in 1996 only for the Court of Appeal to quash the conviction and order a retrial.

"I accept there has been considerable pressure on you for the past few years.

"It is very difficult for anyone hearing the account of what happened to understand what you did and why you did it.

"Something blew up in your head that caused you a complete and sudden loss of self control.

"As a result, a lively, free-spirited young woman is dead.

"No-one will ever know for sure what it was that Tasleem did or said to you on that afternoon.

"It is clear she was having an illicit relationship with Mr X and that would be deeply offensive to someone with your background and religious beliefs.

"I accept that the family consequences of your actions are grave and no-one in your family will ever forget what you have done.

"Any sentence I impose cannot adequately reflect the loss of a life."

Solicitor Rashid Majid of Bradford firm Khan Solicitors said: "Mr Hussain could be eligible for parole next year. He is happy and relieved, but his thoughts are with the deceased. They were first cousins and their families are intermarried. They are a closely knit family - Tasleem's mother and father are the uncle and aunt of the defendant."

"The family has been under a lot of stress and Mr Hussain's four daughters and son have been worried."

He added: "There has been lots of stress and pressure from the police, particularly when Mr Hussain was in Pakistan - a number of members of the family were interviewed at the police station although they had nothing to do with it. They are bitter about the way police handled matters."

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