Afghan Man Jailed for Seven Years in Scotland for Raping Woman
British media have reported that an Afghan man in Scotland has been sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a woman. The case dates back to an incident that took place in Edinburgh in 2021.
According to the BBC, 36-year-old Abdul Nabi-zada was accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in a car after a night out, instead of taking her home. The High Court found him unanimously guilty last month.
Judge John Morris KC said at sentencing that Nabi-zada had committed a “gross betrayal of trust.” The woman told the court that she had expected Nabi-zada to drive her home, but that he repeatedly asked her for sex on the way.
According to the woman, she refused several times and told Nabi-zada that she had a boyfriend. The court heard that Nabi-zada then took her to a secluded area in Joppa, near Portobello, took her phone, and after an struggle, raped her in the car.
The woman told the court that she fled the car after the incident and hid among bushes. It was also said in court that she later shared the account with one of her relatives.
Nabi-zada denied the allegations and claimed he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of an explosive device detonating near him. However, the court rejected this defence and found him guilty.
According to the report, Nabi-zada had previously worked in Afghanistan as a translator for British, Danish and US military forces. After arriving in Britain in 2016, he also applied for British citizenship; his lawyer said before sentencing that his client could face deportation following the conviction.
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and the region’s High Court hears serious criminal cases. Portobello is also one of the eastern areas of Edinburgh.
