“I escaped a forced marriage”
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| Yasmine Mohammed <info@freeheartsfreeminds.com> Unsubscribe | 8:04 AM (3 hours ago) |  | |
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| AUG 2024, Sana faced years of physical abuse—her mother bleached her skin, and she endured sexual assault, coping through an eating disorder. By 29, fear and control had shaped most of her life, but that didn’t stop her – she quietly plotted her escape. Even after breaking free, the trauma stayed with her. It wasn’t until she found Free Hearts Free Minds that she felt truly liberated. Below, Sana shares how our program helped her release guilt, regain confidence, return to work, and study again to complete her medical degree. WATCH SANA’S STORY WHO NEEDS YOUR HELP Meet Malaika, a 25-year-old from Pakistan. With a story that seems straight out of a nightmare, Malaika grew up in a family that embraced a Western lifestyle—at least on the surface. Her brother was sent to the UK to study, and Malaika was promised the same. She had dreams of going abroad, getting an education, and building a life. But that dream never came true. Instead, she found herself trapped in Pakistan, under the thumb of her mentally ill mother. Her mother, who had only wanted sons, did everything in her power to mold Malaika into something she wasn’t. Without her knowledge, Malaika was given testosterone, forced to bind her chest, dress like a boy, and endure a cycle of physical and mental abuse that went on for years. College? The UK? Those were fantasies. Then, just when Malaika thought she might break free, her mother got cancer. And guess who had to nurse her? Malaika put her dreams on hold once again, caring for her mother until she passed away. When she died, the floodgates of trauma opened wide, and Malaika found herself teetering on the edge, struggling with the urge to end her life. But life wasn’t done with her yet. Soon after her mother’s death, her father fell ill too. Now, Malaika is not only the breadwinner but also the caretaker for her father, all while her own mental health crumbles around her. Panic attacks are her constant companions, and the hope she once had is fading fast. What keeps her going? Well, Malaika is a gifted writer, and despite everything, she still dreams of finishing her studies in the UK, the promise that was stolen from her. Right now, she needs support—desperately—to get through this time and plan for a future she can call her own. Please help Malaika get off the waitlist.DONATE TO HELP MALAIKA Our goal is $10,000 to get an extra 20 freethinkers off the waitlist. Ahmed was 1 of them. Click donate to read the stories of the others.WHO WE’RE HELPING Sulaiman 33 yo Afghan in Pakistan:“In 2020, I made the difficult decision to leave Islam after studying the Koran and finding numerous contradictions that did not make sense to me. When I abandoned my faith, my ex-wife and her family were deeply upset. They tried to pressure me to return to Islam, but I could no longer support what I saw as a system designed to control people’s lives, dictating how we should eat, dress, and choose our friends. Practices where a child’s body is mutilated, felt criminal to me. Moreover, it seemed that all privileges were reserved for men and mujahideen—those who waged war, killed innocents, and raped women. For me, there was no going back to that darkness. After seven years of marriage, my wife, under pressure from her family, decided to leave me, labeling me a ‘Kafir’ (infidel). I began receiving threats from her and her family, warning me that they would expose my apostasy in Afghanistan, where such a revelation could easily lead to my death. We divorced in 2023, and since then, I have lived in fear and confusion, paying a steep price simply for choosing a different path from those around me. I am seeking help to leave Pakistan, where I am no longer safe. Despite holding a refugee card, I do not have a visa, and the authorities are increasingly pressuring Afghan refugees to leave, often threatening deportation. I have no country to return to. Afghanistan is now overrun by extremists, and going back would be a death sentence for me. The story of Farkhunda Malikzada, who was beaten and burned alive by a mob in Kabul while liberals were in power, shows just how dangerous it is for people like me. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program. It has given me a glimmer of hope in a time of immense fear and uncertainty, and I cannot express enough how much I appreciate the support offered to me in my fight for safety and freedom.”Help more freethinkers improve their lives, and create ripple effects across the Muslim world. Join the movement! DONATE NOW, please forward this email to your family, friends and contacts. Thank you so much, |
canisgallicus 