A story that certainly changed my life. A biography...
The book is called SOLD and it was written by Zana Muhsen. This text tells the story of two half-yemeni half-pakistani sisters, Zana and Nadia, who lived in Birmingham until they were 15 and 14 years respectively. At this age they are sold by their father. They did not know what was happening, as they thought they were going on holidays with friends of their family to this Middle Eastern country, where their dad was born.
After arriving to Yemen and being aware of their situation, they started facing a life of abuses, mistreatments, violations and suffering. Both teenagers were forced to remain silent, to obey their new "husbands" and "in laws" and to continue with a life that was very different from the one they had back in England, in a yemeni rural and traditional town, where women's voices remain under men's shadows.
In the book, it is very clear how strong the emotions that Zana feels every day become. Days pass by and months...and finally years. They start getting used to their new life, they get pregnant and they still do not know anything about their family, as it is forbidden for them to communicate with their own mother.
Some of the few images about Nadia and Zana in Yemen,
with Nadia's first son.
Pictures taken from tornamosan website
Coming back to England was an ilussion that kept on fading away little by little, until one day Zana gets in touch with her mother by mail through a doctor. Hope comes back into her life and after waiting 8 years, she is able to leave her husband, thanks to media's pressure, diplomacy and her mother. Nevertheless her son, Marcus, stays in Yemen with her sister Nadia because both women are allowed to leave the country only without their children. It is hard for Nadia to accept as she is a mother of more than three children but Zana accepts to leave, promissing she will come back for Nadia, as she thought it would be easier to get international help outside Yemen. Sadly, that was the last time Zana saw her sister.
Today
It is very sad that we keep on being witnesses of this type of atrocities, which remain existing in our so called "modern society". Gender equality, human rights and health in general remain being abused day by day in every single continent in the world.
I have read that Zana lives in Birmingham and has brought up a new family, but Nadia and Marcus are still in Yemen. There is a second part of the book called A PROMISE TO NADIA, but I cannot find it anywhere! I recommend 100% this text, as it is a very different story, certainly a book that you will finish reading in less than 2 days, it is impossible to close it until you know what happened with both sisters!
Zahna and her mother Miriam
Picture taken from Liberteforeverblog
(Andrea Arzaba, April 2010)
Thank you for this Andrea. It does seem like a very touching, heartwarming and heartbreaking story. It reminds me of the Austrian guy who locked her children in the basement for 18 years if I’m not mistaken. I wonder how these tales of sexual abuse and atrocity can just happen.
I feel that this is a little bit about how different perception of woman can be, if she has been growing up in Great Britan and then moved/sold away. This is probably one reason why we have chance to read this book. But in the meantime situtions like this happens every moment..
I read one of this kind of book. The title in French is “Jamais sans ma fille” (Not without my daughter). Betty is an American woman and she gets married with Iranian doctor. She has to leave her country and go to her husband’s country. Once she was over there, he took her passport. She was afraid. Then she discovers mistreatments and suffering too. She had a daughter with this man. During two years, mother and daughter are going to struggle to come back to the USA (successfully).
This kind of book makes you realise how many situations of this kind are happening nowadays in the world. That is just awful.
This book is one of a kind as it gives us the opportunity to learn and get to know about experiences women go through in different societies.
And as Aija said, it was even harder for Zana and Nadia as they were 2 girls who grew up in a very different context, in the UK! In the book she describes it as another world… If you can find this book you should really give it a chance
Andrea, thank you so much! This story paints a poignant picture of an already troubled and ruthless reality. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, unfortunately. You mentioned ‘modern society’ and it automatically reminded me of an interview I’ve done with Michel Callon. I asked him if we were in modernity. Mind you, he said NO. Not in the true sense. He explained that in his vision modernity is a web of cooperation rather than being amongst thousands of gadgets and top modern devices. I said that because I believe that is what is missing: the true international cooperation. We do not see enough international aid and pressure attitudes towards atrocities like that. Be it on the case you delivered us or on the Natalia Estemirova’s example. Sad. Sad to bits. But we have to be the change we want to see. So, let’s keep an eye on it as an international community for it not to happen anymore.
There are so many books written by women who went through a similar life as the girls you described, Andrea. It’s happening all the time. More control is needed, but is that even possible?
I believe this type of stories open people’s eyes to other cultures and make them aware of other societies and ever their own! For example, I had to read this book that is based in the Middle East in order to pay more attention about what is happening in my own country, Mexico, in similar basis!
@Hanna: What do you mean when you say more control is needed?
Thanks for sharing. I have read on of the book out of them. This is really very sad.
We should do something for women.
Sia
http://www.stagcleaningservices.co.uk/stevenage/
This is an awesome topic. Even in develop countries Women are suffering from very bad conditions. we all need to stand against it.
Great Post. I loved your writing style.
Thank you all for your comments! I suggest you to read the book, it opens your eyes to an international problem