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Rabat – An Australian man has alleged that his Moroccan wife punched herself in the face to frame him for domestic violence after gaining a visa through their marriage.
Faisal Khan from Sydney and Asmae from Morocco met online on a popular Muslim dating website, Muslima.com.
According to Khan’s statements to Australian program “A Current Affair” aired on the 9News channel, the newlywed couple enjoyed eight months of a normal married life until one night in April when their usual arguments metamorphosed into something more.
CCTV footage shows Asmae leaving their apartment, entering an elevator, and punching herself twice on the left side of her face, leaving visible bruises under her eye and on her cheek.
Police arrested Khan on charges of assault, however he vehemently denied the accusation, reported Australia’s 9News on December 3, describing the incident as “a case like no other.”
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The assault charges, which carry up to a seven-year prison sentence, were lifted when the CCTV footage emerged.
Khan said that the couple constantly argued, and he had had enough of his wife’s “demands” in the months prior to the incident.
Khan also listed expensive items he had allegedly bought for his wife: Gucci tracksuits, leather jackets, jewelry, shoes, holidays, and fine dining. He also complained of sending money back to Asmae’s family in Morocco.
“All this traveling, going back and forth, all the functions, receptions, engagements, jewellery stuff, probably about $200,000,” he said.
In addition, Khan asserted that he spent $20,000 on legal fees and searched for hundreds of hours for the footage.
Khan claimed that by arresting him, the police “unwittingly” “helped” Asmae steal his belongings, including designer sunglasses, expensive watches and a laptop.
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While Asmae did not give her version of the story, the husband claimed that she is “very, very dangerous.” He stated: “I entered and she said to me that ‘you think you are smart and you’re talking to lawyers about me, now see what I do to you.’”
”I am the victim now. I got used and abused over and over again emotionally, mentally, financially — you name it. I’m the victim. She did that so now it’s her turn to face the consequences,” he complained.
It is not known whether Asmae suffers from mental or psychological instability.
However, the CCTV footage was enough evidence for prosecutors to remove the assault charges from her husband.
Yet, the footage raises more questions than it provides answers: Was Asmae also prey to abuse? How far can an estranged woman go in a foreign country with a husband demanding her immediate deportation?
