I was forbidden to play outside the house from early childhood. I stayed in the kitchen and watched mom while she was cooking.

“I am strictly against women’s education and employment. This is the reason last year I suggested a new regulation to restrict scholarship and overseas studies for women. They return to corrupt our traditions and beliefs because they become westernized.”

“This is the final warning for you to stop your children from going to school and working with foreigners,” the men said. “We will give you one last chance and one last day.”

My beautiful mom was beaten by a naamah’ram, a stranger. In Islam, men are two kinds for women: one is mahram. Mahram men are like father, brother, uncle, husband. But other men are naamah’ram.