Harry Potter Actress Beaten For Dating A Non-Muslim

Afshan Azad, far left, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

A British court has heard a Harry Potter actress was attacked by members of her own family for dating a non-Muslim man.

Afshan Azad, 22, starred as Padma Patil, one of Harry Potter’s classmates, in four of the franchise hit movies made from the books by JK Rowling.

The Daily Mail reports that the star’s father, Abul Azad, 54, and brother, Ashraf, 28, allegedly attacked her, called a her 'prostitute' and threatened to kill her after she met with a young Hindu man. Azad reportedly escaped further assault by climbing through a bedroom window.

Azad’s brother pleaded guilty to assault, and both her father and brother were found not guilty of making threats to kill.

The court was told Azad, who lives with friends in London, would not attend the Manchester trial voluntarily. She had given a statement to the lawyer representing her father and brother which read: “I dearly love my father and brother. The proceedings have caused me no end of distress and if it goes ahead, it will make things much worse for me.”

Azad played a witch of the same age as Harry Potter in the hit franchise, and first appeared in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire. She also starred in the final instalment, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.