Appendix
LETTER 1
Dad
By now you have realised that I have gone. You're
probably still in denial thinking what you have done wrong! All
you had to do dad was get me a divorce instead you wish for me
to suffer like your elder daughter. Right now you're probably
thinking about what people will say, well I'm sorry dad but if
that's all you care about then that's fine. How did you expect
me to live with ****, do you know how much I despise this person.
He did bad things to me. But you still let him live here, look
what he did to ****! Don't you care about your daughters? Dad
you promised me I could get a divorce, do you remember, they were
all lies! Thanks for nothing. I have asked you so many times not
to put me back with him but you're too busy listening to other
people. Dad you made me quit my work. You know I loved working
but then again you're just like your nephew, suspicious.
I'm sorry if I have caused you pain, but I won't
be coming back this time. I don't think you realise the pain you
have caused me. Do you know that I have not spoken to **** for
four weeks, and when he calls me it is to pick a fight. Yes it
is my fault because I do not want to live with him, but it's your
fault because you know I don't want to be with him. You talk about
Islam! Did you know that in Islamic laws I can get a divorce?
I hope that you have a wonderful life. In order for
me to have a life I have to pay me price of losing my . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . helped me more!
Dad, if Mum gets poorly then I'm sorry, but you brought
this on yourselves.
I have nothing more to say, oh and if you're thinking
I've run off with someone then you're wrong, no doubt **** will
say I have, yet it is him who is out at night in his car coming
home late. I have nothing more to say because you know the truth.
LETTER 2
Dear family, I will not be returning home ever! Don't
worry about me, I'm fine. I think I should start off telling you
why I left. Well ever since **** came, he has made my life a misery.
I've done everything for him and you. He has never liked me or
loved me. He treats me like a dog and that is all I am to him.
I'm fed up with the hitting, swearing and him pushing me about.
He accuses me of having an affair. You ask **** (****). She will
tell you the truth. I'm sorry it has ended like this. I have gone
far away so **** can never hurt me again, but all you and him
will be bothered is about your Izatt, well I don't care. I have
informed the police so they will not look for me.
Your daughter
LETTER 3
Dear Ann
I am writing to you to thank you for being so kind
to Muslim girls. You could never imagine the problems we have.
I dare not reveal my identity because I would get a hiding. But
thanks.
I'm not being forced into marriage yet but there
are signs. At the moment my big problem is being able to enjoy
the two cultures. You see I'm now 18 and started work in a big
bank, I love my friends truly, both Asian and English. I love
wearing cool clothes to work like the other girls. I know when
to wear the traditional stuff at festivals and around me family.
Its so nice doing both. I have my hair cut like the babes on TV
and I am told by my lady colleagues I am lovely looking. I say
that not for vanity or to be big headed its just an explanation
why I feel nice at work wearing clothes like the English girls.
The English girls are lovely to me and I feel part of their crowd
which is very nice. This does not hurt my Islamic faith—I
don't drink alcohol or flirt meself about. Father has let me do
this reluctantly. But he reacted badly when I started fitting
some nicely fitting Riva grey trousers for the office. I'd worn
trousers before but these were more shaped and he said that it
isn't modest to show the shape of me bum to people and he forbid
me to wear them. I defied him with mother's blessing, you see
he never usually saw me set off to work or return because he works
many hours in a restaurant in Great Horton. But one day he came
home early and saw me arrive in me arrive home in me trousers
he was furious. He told my little brother **** to bring the cane.
Father's always caned his sons hard when they have done wrong
but never the girls. He gave the cane to mum and demanded she
should cane me, mum wouldn't dare argue. I had to bend over the
ironing board wearing me grey trousers. At first mum took it easy
with me but father demanded she hit me harder and she did. She
gave me about six or seven and it was really painful. Next morning
I had a purple/black bruise on me bum. I went to me room and cried
me eyes out. Not the pain or humiliation so much because hidings
are part of the Asian upbringing for kids, me mum has used a slipper
on me several times—its just that I can't share two cultures.
I love dressing westernised. Me brothers teased me. They thought
it was funny seeing their eldest sister caned in that way. Mum
changed her attitude to me and she forbid me also to not wear
my trousers for work. I tried it on and wore them once, but when
she saw me she brought the cane out even though father wasn't
there. I just bent over and took it across the bum again. I haven't
worn me trousers again.
THEY'VE WON! They have ruined my life! I no longer
see my work friends for a pizza. I can't even talk about them.
I'll never ever wear the veil across me face again to spite them.
I hardly talk to my family now. I lock myself in me bedroom and
read. The forced marriage bit will come I am sure. Last year I
discovered that my name on my passport was different to my name
on me birth certificate, and again different to some other papers.
Dad wouldn't explain. Mum put her finger to her lips to shush
me and hinted it meant more money coming in if there was three
of me! I've also discovered that dad and my eldest brother are
not insured and taxed to drive. They are cheating the state. No
wonder the BNP do so well. I'm desperate to get out. I dream about
meeting someone nice and running away and living on the South
coast. I could have gone to Uni but dad told me I had to settle
for a college course. I'm part-time studying now. But it will
be years before I get a well paid job so I can't leave home. One
day I will write to you again when I'm away from them all. But
until then keep up the good work. If only other MPs had the guts
to back you. Please don't try and trace me.
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