14 Feb 2020

Two women who were jailed for attacking a woman, because they thought she’d been sharing embarrassing videos of them online, have had their sentences extended.

Sobiya Iqbal, 28, of Weatherby Road, Luton, and Uzma Iqbal, 33, of Runley Road, Luton, were jailed for two and a half years and 18 months respectively in December, after being found guilty of kidnap, causing actual bodily harm, and robbery.

However, the sentences were considered to be unduly lenient by the Attorney General, andhave now been increased following a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday, February 14, 2020.

Sobiya Iqbal will now serve four years in jail, while Uzma Iqbal faces three years behind bars.  

The sisters mistakenly believed a woman had shared videos online of them drinking and dancing – something they said had caused them embarrassment due to their faith. 

In a bid for revenge, the sisters drove the victim to a remote country lane before assaulting her, cutting off her hair, and spraying her with an unknown substance. Fortunately the victim was then able to run away, and ran for more than a mile, before seeking help from a remote farm house. 

Detective Constable Scott Hannam said: “The Iqbal sisters inflicted an enormous amount of terror and pain on their victim, so we’re really pleased that they have now had their sentences extended.

“This was understandably a horrifying ordeal and, following a review by the Attorney General,we now believe the sentences reflect the severity of the Iqbals’ actions.

“We’d like to praise the bravery of the victim throughout the investigation and subsequent court process, and we hope that she can now have some form of closure knowing that the sisters have been made to pay the price for their despicable behaviour.”