The father of eight-year-old Malika Noor Al Katib appeared in court charged with her murder and the attempted murder of her mother in Co. Wexford.
Mohammad Shaker Al Tamimi, from New Ross, appeared before a special session of the Gorey District Court yesterday afternoon.
The 34-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of Malika and the attempted murder of her mother, Aisha Al Katib.
The schoolgirl died after suffering stab wounds in the early hours of Monday when she tried to intervene in a row.
Detective Garda Donal Doyle of New Ross Garda Station gave evidence of his arrest and caution to the court.
He said the accused was arrested shortly after 12.30pm at Waterford University Hospital on Tuesday.
He was subsequently charged with the offenses shortly after 5pm yesterday at Wexford Garda Station.
The court was told he did not respond to the charges.
Mohammad Shaker Al Tamimi (pictured) appeared before a special session of the Gorey District Court yesterday afternoon.
The father of eight-year-old Malika Noor Al Katib (pictured) appeared in court charged with her murder.
Dressed in dark gray pants, a white blouse and soft shoes, he covered himself with a blue blanket as he sat in court.
An Arabic interpreter translated the court proceedings for the defendant.
The defendant’s lawyer, Tim Cummins, told the court he had not been instructed to make a bail application.
District Judge Kevin Staunton said the district court cannot grant bail on a murder charge.
Cummins also filed a legal aid application, saying his client has no resources.
The defendant, who was driven to Gorey District Court in a police van, was remanded in custody to appear at Wexford Court on Monday, December 9 via video link.
Judge Staunton ordered that the defendant receive a psychological evaluation when he arrives in custody.
The schoolgirl was at home in New Ross with her mother when the incident occurred on Sunday night.
She covered herself with a blue blanket as she walked to the courthouse.
The man has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
Imam Rashid Munir (pictured) of the Waterford Islamic Center told the Mail that further tests need to be carried out on Malika before her body can be handed over to her mother Alisha Al Katib.
It is understood he had tried to intervene when his mother was attacked.
She was taken to University Hospital Waterford but died from her injuries in the early hours of Monday.
The mother of eight-year-old Malika Noor Al Katib is waiting for her daughter’s remains to be delivered as she prepares to attend her funeral this week.
Imam Rashid Munir, of the Waterford Islamic Centre, told the Mail that further tests need to be carried out on Malika before her body can be handed over to her mother Alisha Al Katib, 31, and her family, which is expected to the next few days.
A Muslim cleansing ritual will then be carried out on the girl’s body in a specially prepared room at Waterford University Hospital before she is transported to a Muslim plot of land in Waterford city for burial.
“I was with the mother last night and it’s not easy to hear the details of what happened on Sunday night,” Mr. Munir said.
‘The family are still waiting for Malika’s body to be delivered, which we believe will be in a couple of days. We support Alisha and encourage her to give her son the last bath, which is an important ritual among Muslims.
“He is in the hospital but wants to attend his funeral when the time comes,” he said. Justice Minister Helen McEntee called the incident “extremely tragic”.