Who is Iqbal Mohammed? The true story behind Birmingham barrister in ITV's Real Fatal Attraction

In 2019, high-flying Birmingham barrister Iqbal Mohammed was one of the most respected in his field. Nominated for barrister of the year by Birmingham Law Society, the University of Birmingham graduate was forging a commendable career as a commercial lawyer.

Two years later, Iqbal would be arrested in his own chambers and chucked in a police cell for the alleged rape, kidnap and assault of an ex-lover. With his career in ruin, and his relationship in tatters, Iqbal considered taking his own life - but instead decided to stage a fightback, using his legal skills to clear his name.

It would soon become evident that the 'malicious' plot was hatched by an ex-lover of Iqbal's named Anisah Ahmed, who began a 'comprehensive' revenge campaign against him after he hid the fact he had a wife during their nine-month affair. Iqbal's shocking case is the subject of a new ITV documentary title The Real Fatal Attraction, airing on ITV on Wednesday, November 13 at 9pm.

READ MORE: ITV Midsomer Murders viewers issue same complaint as season finale airs

Who is Iqbal Mohammed?

Iqbal Mohammed is a respected lawyer from Birmingham who specialises in commercial law. He is one of the most respected in his field and was nominated for barrister of the year by Birmingham Law Society in 2019.

But life changed forever for the barrister when he receieved a 'connect' request on LinkedIn in 2013. The request was from fellow barrister Anisah Ahmed, who filled Iqbal's inbox with probing questions about the lawyer's career.

After initially ignoring the request, Anisah tried again three years later - simply saying 'hi'. Iqbal - who married in 2013 - decided to respond to the request, beginning a flirty conversation which eventually led to a passionate nine-month-long affair.

Iqbal kept his wife a secret from Anisah, who was furious when the truth came out. She launched an eloborate revenge plot which would nearly ruin Iqbal's life.

Why was Iqbal Mohammed arrested?

After it emerged that her lover was married, Anisah began an elaborate campaign of revenge described in court as 'malicious' and 'even evil.' Ahmed fored emails from Iqbal's work account which claimed the barrister was threatening to post intimate pictures of her online.

Iqbal was arrested in his chambers in June 2015, questioned for hours for a crime he did not commit. During the police investigation, Ahmed had also falsely accused Iqbal of rape, and faked a kidnapping to make it appear as if Iqbal had hired a hitman to kill her.

But Ahmed wasn't done yet. She went on to stab herself in the leg and was rushed to hospital, telling emergency services it was Iqbal who had committed the crime.

What happened to Iqbal Mohammed?

Anisah's plot began to unravel under police scrutiny and she was arrested. In 2021, she was handed a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of four years, six months and 10 days.

After seeing her jailed, Mr Mohammed said he believed he was targeted following a BBC documentary appearance on a show called The Barristers - following law students as they took their first steps into the profession after passing the Bar Vocational Course.

He likened the harrassment he faced to the film 'Fatal Attraction'. Speaking after the court case, he said: "I can’t put into words what it was like. I saw Fatal Attraction a couple of years ago but I couldn’t watch it because it was just like what happened to me, it was like the life that I lived.

"There was no enjoyment or entertainment in it because it was scary to see this sort of thing in a film because I had lived it. It started off as harassment which was frustrating and then it became really dangerous and dark and really scary, frightening.

“I would never have thought the judge would pass a life sentence, I think most people would think that’s crazy because she hasn’t killed anyone but I do not think anyone would realise the depths of what she did."

After the charges against Iqbal were dropped, he was able to reconcile with his wife, after a period of separation. The Real Fatal Attraction, which dives into Ahmed’s crimes, will air on ITV on Wednesday, November 13 at 9pm.