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Kauser - killed during exorcism
Human torch dad devastated by daughter’s death
24/ 3/2006
A FATHER haunted by the torture and murder of his daughter
during an "exorcism" died after setting himself on fire - just days
after the sudden death of his wife.
Mohammed Bashir's 20-year-old daughter, Kousar Bashir, died in June
1991 after enduring systematic beatings during a horrific eight-day
ritual after Mr Bashir paid two holy men £200 to rid an "evil
spirit" people believed had taken over her body.
Kousar, who had a history of mental illness and had descended into
depression after failing her driving test, was diagnosed by holy
men Mohammed Bashir (no relation) and Nourani Sayeed as being
possessed. They proceeded to beat her to death using a heavy glass
ashtray, a walking stick, and Bashir's fists.
Kousar was also starved of food and sleep for eight days, made to
eat chilli powder, suffered 17 broken ribs, a broken breastbone and
was cut three times between her breasts.
An inquest at Oldham Magistrates' Court heard how Mr Bashir, a
56-year-old ex-machine operator from Coppice, never recovered from
his daughter's death even after Sayeed was jailed for five years
and Bashir for life in March 1992.
His GP, Dr Kapur of Werneth Hall Road Surgery, described how Mr
Bashir, who was originally from Pakistan, also had a long history
of depression, mobility problems, heavy drinking and sleeping
problems, for which he had been receiving treatment up to nine
months before his death.
But 13 years after the death of his daughter, his wife was suddenly
admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital and diagnosed with leukemia,
from which she tragically died a month later on April 14
2005.
Mr Bashir's son, Shazad Bashir, told the inquest how he last spoke
to his father on April 28, 2005 - the morning of his death - and
was told Mr Bashir was praying for his deceased wife.
But, unbeknown to his son, Mr Bashir had asked some children to
fill up a nine-litre can full of petrol for him that morning.
Assistant Divisional Officer Robert Hayden of Greater Manchester
Fire Service told the inquest that Mr Bashir's younger sister was
reading out the Koran to Mr Bashir when her brother got up and
walked into the backyard.
His daughter Afshar then saw flames through the kitchen window and
immediately dialled 999.
Family friend Sarfaz Saleem doused the fire, but by this time a
still-conscious Mr Bashir was covered in almost 100 per cent burns,
including the soles of his feet.
Three fire crews, an ambulance and police arrived at the scene at
15.24pm to find Mr Bashir surrounded by the half empty can and a
cigarette lighter and leaning against a wall after staggering
across his yard .
Attendant policeman PC Nesbitt tried to comfort Mr Bashir, and
heard him say, "Petrol, I did it." PC Nesbitt asked if he had
poured it on himself, to which he replied, "Yes".
Mr Bashir was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital where he died that
evening after confessing to his son Rifakat that he had sent
children to get the petrol for him.
Coroner Simon Nelson concluded that Mr Bashir had taken his own
life while in a state of depression.
Addressing Shazad Bashir, he added: "I only hope that you and your
family are able to move on and remember some of the qualities he
had prior to entering his state of anxiety."
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