Mother-in-law sentenced to 5 years for driving daughter-in-law to suicide

A woman from the Chiroqchi district of the Qashqadaryo region has received a five-year prison sentence for her role in her daughter-in-law's suicide. The details of the case come from official criminal court records, as reported by Daryo.

The victim, who was 18 when she married the defendant's son in 2020, had been married for nearly six years. Initially, the family cohabited without significant issues. However, court documents indicate that the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law deteriorated considerably over time.

Starting in January 2022, the 47-year-old defendant consistently criticized the young woman's housekeeping, subjected her to physical abuse, and frequently insisted she divorce her son. During one particularly intense disagreement, the mother-in-law took her daughter-in-law to her parents' home, stating she no longer wished for her to be part of the family.

In court, the defendant acknowledged striking her daughter-in-law and taking her back to her parents. She asserted, however, that her intention was for the parents to provide their daughter with a "disciplinary talking-to."

The accused entered a partial guilty plea, expressed regret, and requested leniency from the court. She also highlighted that she has been the sole caregiver for the couple's three young children since her daughter-in-law's death.

The court convicted the woman under Article 103, Part 2, clause "a" of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, which pertains to inducing suicide in an individual who is financially or otherwise reliant on the offender. She was given a five-year prison sentence. It is worth noting that this particular charge typically carries a sentence of 7 to 10 years.