Revenge Marriage
The family had decided to kill us. They not only wanted to kill us, but stone us to death to teach women and girls a lesson.
I Will Not Give Up
“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.”
Everything Is Smiling but My Soul
My mother said, “You can continue your studies after your marriage. However, you will not need to because this man is very rich. Everything you require is available for you in his home, so stop arguing. This is our final decision. You have to marry him.”
The Naamah’ram Downstairs
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.
I Saw Taliban Near Kabul
They had been stopped three times in the past by cars full of Taliban, and there was the chance it would happen again. Everyone was scared and cautious. The woman with me in the back seat was mumbling some words of the Qur’an. I didn’t know what was going on.
A Pretty Toy in My Family’s Hands
The next day, several relatives arrived at our house. I was not aware at first of what was going on, but then I understand they were at my home to buy me. I was such a pretty toy, a pretty toy to play with.
A Hope in the Unseen
I live in fear…I am fifty years older inside than I am on the calendar, and so very tired of the war in my life.
A Grave for My Dreams
My strength, my power, my voice have been always ignored. I had to tolerate life and hide things inside my heart. My desires, hopes, and wishes stayed unknown and I was passive from the scene of my life. I never had the courage to look others in the eyes or talk back to them.
I Am For Sale, Part II
Uncle sent word that if I didn’t appear before him and answer his questions in front of a jirga, he would cut off my brother’s fingers. A month passed in this way. Then I learned Uncle had cut off three of my brother’s fingers. I can’t tell you the pain I felt. I didn’t think I had my own fingers. It was my fault because I know my country; I know my family.