This is the full-length version of an article published by the New Statesman on 13 May 2016. Recently published figures on forced marriage confirm that the crime is vastly under-reported and that only a fraction of investigations result in prosecution. This comes as no surprise to me, and we can...
“What can you remember from that time?” asks Linda, gently. Henna shuts her eyes briefly and involuntarily flinches. Trying to open up that memory box is painful: the process of trying to remember hurts as much as the newly uncovered memories themselves. In that room with the wooden shutters pulled...
Warning: this post contains spoilers (although the title gives it away tbh) The recently aired BBC 3 drama Murdered by my Father is an incredibly powerful depiction of the circumstances in which ‘honour’-based violence takes place. Screenwriter Vinay Patel developed the story following detailed consultation with specialist support charity IKWRO (the Iranian and...
Because I write regularly about forced marriage and honour abuse, I often receive messages of support and solidarity. Sometimes I hear from women and men who have faced similar issues, or who can identify with aspects of my story in some way. Below is one of those messages, received from a man who has...
