EXCLUSIVE: ‘It was over and done within 10 minutes’
19:04, 08 Oct 2025Updated 19:42, 08 Oct 2025
Jihad Al-Shamie told the woman they could only be in a relationship together if they got married first(Image: M.E.N.)
A woman has told how she married Manchester synagogue terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie in an online ceremony as she sat in her front room.
She said the Islamic ceremony, which took place during Covid restrictions, was ‘over and done within 10 minutes’.
Al-Shamie carried out a knife and car attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall on Yom Kippur last Thursday (October 2). Two people died and four injured.
told the woman they could only be in a relationship together if they got married first.
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But what she didn’t know was that he was already married – a fact he went on to admit to her as he begged for forgiveness in a series of messages they exchanged exclusively revealed by the Manchester Evening News.
The woman, a mum, 38, said: “He set all the marriage up, it was all done by him. He just said he wanted to marry me – and he would often tell me that I was his type.
“There were witnesses there and it was all over an Internet call. He said that before we had a relationship, we needed to be married.”
Jihad Al-Shamie(Image: UGC/MEN)
The woman, who the Manchester Evening News isn’t naming to protect her, tells in an exclusive interview today how ‘pushy’ Al-Shamie had to get his own way at all times.
The woman, who had previously converted to Islam, told how at first, she believed she was in love with him. But she revealed how he went on to abuse her both mentally and sexually – and ‘constantly’ lied to her to keep his secret safe.
“He was nice, then he was vile. Nice, vile,” she said. “It was his way or no way.” They met just before Christmas in 2021, and were married by the end of January of 2022.
‘He was nice, then he was vile'(Image: Jason Roberts / Manchester Evening News)
She said the ceremony took place over a video call – possibly Zoom or on Facebook – linked to a mosque from the front room of her home in the north west.
“We were talking for a bit, then he was pushy,” she said of their initial messages after meeting on the Muslim dating app Muzz, formerly known as Muzmatch.
They met within the month, she said.
She said they exchanged vows in a ‘Nikah’ ceremony, an Islamic marriage contract ceremony. The Manchester Evening News has seen their marriage certificate, which is dated January 29, 2022.
It states the Nikah was ‘solemnised according to Islamic Law’ and references ‘Jihad Alshamie’ and the woman’s name. The document also references two witnesses and their signatures, as well as the name of an Imam who performed the ceremony.
Police at the scene(Image: PA)
“Every time I met him it was just pushy,” she said. “His way or no way.”
Of the marriage ceremony she said: “It was over and done with in less than 10 minutes.
“All I had to do was to wear a headscarf. He had a prayer hat on.
“We had to copy what the Imam was saying and that was it. He just said ‘right, you are married’. It was quick and simple.”
The woman said they were both stood together in the front room at the time.
In messages they exchanged, Al-Shamie says he hasn’t given her a divorce.
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“Look I want to c u and talk properly in person technically we r still married I never gave u divorce after we got back together,” he wrote.
The woman says he told her twice he wanted a divorce. Yes but we got back after that and it’s three time that makes it permanent not 2,” he replies.
The woman has spoken exclusively to the M.E.N.(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Al-Shamie, 35, who was on bail for an alleged rape, was shot dead by police as he targeted the place of worship.
Adrian Daulby, 53, is believed to have died after being shot by police while trying to stop Al-Shamie from entering the synagogue during the attack.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, from Crumpsall, another worshipper who helped prevent the attacker from entering the premises, also lost his life.
Four others were hurt.