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An Iraqi immigrant attacked his daughter for religious reasons, Wellington District Court heard yesterday.
Ishak Ishak, 59, pleaded guilty to assaulting his daughter in April.
Judge Susan Thomas said Ishak, an Assyrian Christian, went into his 20-year-old daughter's room and confronted her about going out with a Muslim.
He hit her three to four times which only caused slight bruising to one of her hands, Judge Thomas said.
Ishak immigrated to New Zealand from Iraq in 1995.
His lawyer, Sue Earl, said there were "huge cultural issues" and much shame was brought to an Assyrian Christian family if members married a Muslim. Ishak's daughter would have been excommunicated from the family, Ms Earl said.
The shame in the community of his daughter marrying a Muslim would have been worse than a conviction.
Judge Thomas said no matter how shocked or shamed he was it did not excuse assault. She convicted Ishak and ordered him to appear for sentencing if called within nine months.
- NZPA
