MY FAMILY BACKGROUND
I belong to an Indian Sikh (pronounced Seek) family. My parentsMigrated to
I was educated in an Indian high school in Tehran the Indian Sikh Community in Tehran was managing this school with their own Private funds to help students to maintain their own Indian Culture And Religion.
We were living in the Iranian Muslim Community area of
In 1999 my parents noticed felt that I remain sad in the house. I was the only daughter of my Parents, and I had three loving Brothers. My parents and brothers were concerned about my sad situation and kept on asking me the reasons of my sadness. It was hard for me to tell my Parents that I Love a Muslim Iranian boy. One day my Mom insisted on me to tell her the reasons of my Gloomy face. I told my Mom that I love a Muslim Boy and his name is Jamid, who lives in our community Housing area. My mother told me that Muslims are very strict about their Religion and It will be impossible for me to marry my Iranian Muslim boyfriend Jamid.
MY MARRIAGE TO MUSLIM BOYFRIEND
My boyfriend Jamid told me that if I accept Muslim religion, then his Family could allow him to marry me. He also told me that Iran Laws do not allow a Muslim to Marry a Non Believer girl. The Sikh religion is considered as Non believer. I told my Boyfriend that I couldn’t decide this without the permission of my Parents. I Informed My Mom about the proposal of my boy friend that if I accept Muslim Religion Then he could marry me. My mom told me that she would consult my Dad About this Proposal of my boyfriend. After few days my Mom told me that my dad has not agreed for me to become Muslim for the sake of getting married to my Boy friend. I then informed my boyfriend Hamid that my Mom and Dad have not agreed for me to Become Muslim to get married to a person to whom I love.
My boyfriend told me that my Parents would never agree for me to become Muslim. It is only for the sake of our Love that I should accept Muslim Religion; otherwise we cannot live together as wife and Husband. I told my boyfriend that my Parents, Brothers and whole Sikh Community would hate me if I become Muslim.
My boyfriend and me kept me thinking about this problem.My boyfriend took me to his house and introduced me to his family. His whole Family requested me to become Muslim. They promised with me that they would protect me from all problems if I become Muslim. They also promised with me that they would be very polite with me for HIJAB and other requirement of Muslim Religion for women. I was totally confused on this matter. I could not decide for my Answer. I told my boyfriend Jamid that let me think for sometime on this Problem.
Meanwhile my father warned me that if I change my religion then he will never see me again in Life and I will not be allowed to come back to my parent’s home again. I told my mom that Jamid Family has promised with me that they will give me protection of all kind if I become Muslim. My mom told me that I should not rely on their Promises. My father advised me not to trust Iranian people. He said he has very bad experience for trusting the Iranian people in his business.
Jamid loved me a lot. I asked him that if he could become a Sikh to marry me. He told me that Punishment in Islam /
My Boyfriend Jamid took me to a Mosque And I was made a Muslim Girl
After Few days we both got married on 07/09/1999 according to Islamic Laws,
and We left for Honeymoon. Jamid was a loving husband. We both enjoyed our Honeymoon and came back to home. Jamid was living with his Parents, Four Married Brothers and three sisters in a joint Family System. Hamid was the Youngest of all in his family. My husband Hamid was Afraid of his Parents, Elder brothers and sisters. In Farsi Language it is said “ SAG BASH
BRATHERE KHURD NA BASH’, which means that it is good to be a Dog
Rather then the youngest brother in the Family.
Jamid had a small room in His parent’s house, where I started living with him. After Few days my mother in law told me that you have to obey all orders for women in Islam. She told me that you have to get up early morning at about 5 AM and pray Salat along with other family members. Then pray the remaining Salats through out the day. I will have to observe Hijab very strictly.
My Mother in law told me that I have to practice Islam and should not maintain any connections with the Sikh community. She told me that if I maintain any connections with the Sikh community then I could be blamed of Going Back from Islam to my original family Sikh religion, which is Punishable by death in Islam.
My mother in law also told me that you are the wife of her youngest son. As the tradition Of their family I have to Serve the whole family by preparing food, cleaning house and Doing laundry of the whole family clothes. At night I told my Husband Jamid that your Mom has ordered me to Practice Islam and Serve whole family and do house cleaning, Food preparing, do laundering of whole family clothes every day. How can I do all this big work? I also told my husband that your whole Family had promised with me before marriage that they will be polite with me in Practice of Islam if I become Muslim.
Why are your parents now going back from their Promises done with me before Marriage and trying to harass me and terrify me by saying that if I maintain relations with my Sikh community than I can be blamed of going back from Islam, which is Punishable by death? I told my husband that my parents and my whole Sikh community also now dislike me because I have become Muslim to get married with you according to Islamic Iranian Laws.
My Husband told me that he is the youngest member of his family and he is helpless. He cannot ask his Mom and other elder family members that why they have now gone back from their promises with you. He told me that he has no personal business and home. Therefore he is totally dependent on his family. Thus he cannot disobey his family.
My Husband was very much afraid of his elder brothers and his parents. It was the duty of my husband to open the carpet shop at about 9 AM and arrange it for business. He used to work at his Father’s shop till about 5 PM. During his absence from home I used to obey my mother in law and do all the household work according to her orders. I was so tired every day that my legs and whole body was always swollen and paining. My mother in law was never happy with my work and will always complain of my work to my husband and to everybody in the relatives. She will some times curse me and abuse me. I used to even pray all the salats according to their timings and observe strict Hijab as other Muslim women. Because I loved my husband therefore I worked very hard to satisfy him and his Family members to live a peaceful life in their house. My husband was satisfied with my performance and hard work. My diet and food was very little and I always felt weakness in my body. I developed constant headache and I lost lot of weight.
I WAS TREETED AS SERVANT AND SLAVE IN THE HOUSE.
BEGINNING OF MY PERSECUTION
I became Pregnant during January 2000. I told my husband that because I am pregnant, I need good food and proper rest to maintain good health for our coming baby. Therefore he should inform his Mom that I couldn’t do so much household work of the whole Family and also perform certain Religious Duties early morning at 5 AM. My husband became happy that I am pregnant and informed his Mom about it. His Mom told my Husband that she does not care about it that your wife is pregnant. She warned my husband that if your wife did not perform the household duties and the Religious duties according to her satisfaction she would be punished severely.
My husband became sad on this reply of her mother. I told my husband that I would try my best to do all the work according to the satisfaction of her mother. I was pregnant and without proper food and rest, still I will perform all the household duties and the religious duties according to the orders of my mother in law.
One afternoon when I was working in my home I felt so much weakness that I fell down on the floor. My elder sister in-law came and picked me up. She helped me to walk up to my bed so that I can do some rest. Meanwhile my mother-in law came in my room and ordered me to get up. She told me that you are making false excuses to avoid the household work and the important religious duties. I told my mother in-law that I am very week and I am unable to get up now. On listening to my reply she caught me from my neck and started beating me. She slapped on my face, pulled my hairs and dragged me out of my bed on the floor. Meanwhile her eldest son also came there. My mother in law told her eldest son that this SIKH BITCH is not obeying my orders and making excuses to disobey Islam, therefore I want to punish her. The eldest son also joined with my mother in law and started beating me. I was bleeding from my Face. My nose also started bleeding and there were broses on my eyes and neck. I kept on weeping and nobody in the family cared for me. My mother in Law and her eldest son beat me on my stomach to destroy my pregnancy and went out of my room.
After about one hour my husband came back from his job, when he saw me in bleeding condition he asked me the reasons. I told him the whole details. He felt sorry for it but told me to be Patient about it. He said that we have no house, no business and we cannot do any thing about it. I told my husband that I cannot take this situation any long and he should take me to Hospital immediately and to the Police station.
I told my husband that I thought Muslim are good people and Islam teaches them to be Fair and helpful to each other. But I find your Muslim Family so cruel and merciless to me. I am a newly converted Muslim and with this behavior of your family I like to go back to my Sikh Religion.
My husband took me to the nearby Police station. The Police told me that you have to obey your mother in law and elder family members. This is
My husband took me to the nearby Doctor. When the doctor saw my condition he became sympathetic with me. He treated me with lot of care. He gave me medicines and we came back home.
I became extremely fearful in the house.
My husband told me that he feels sorry for all this cruel treatment given to me by his family. Days will pass like that. I kept on working like a Slave of the Family. I started thinking about our future and the future of our coming baby. I realized that it is Dark all around.
There is No freedom in this country and society. I am helpless. My mother in law and her elder son beet me on ONE pretext OR the other. I am in a big danger.
I got a Son on 10/27/2000. My husband and I were happy. Every body else in the Family was also happy. My mother in law came to me and told me that you will not raise your son, because, you are basically a Sikh Girl and not a Born Muslim. We will raise this boy as a Pure Muslim boy. He is a Born Muslim Blood.
I got surprised on this situation. A mother is told that you will not raise your son, because you were not a Born Muslim. I asked my husband that would you allow your family to snatch my son from me. My husband told me that he couldn’t think of any such logic in Islam. Islam does not Distinguish Newly Converted Muslims from the Born Muslims.
I asked my husband to tell me, how he can handle this situation. I told him that your Parents and elder brothers beat me constantly in your house. I complained to the police and the Police told me that they would not listen to me. My parents have disowned me because I left my Sikh Religion and became Muslim on the false promises of your family. Now I am not allowed to raise my son, I feel that it is good for me to commit suicide.
My husband was also very sad on this situation and told me to think and plan how to get rid of this cruel society and Family system. My husband said that he does not agree with the thinking of his parents and Family about Islam, they are being cruel to me. I told my husband that I want to talk to my mom on the phone. He made an extra telephone line in our room and told me to use the phone quietly.
I contacted my Mom on the phone and told her that I am sorry that I disobeyed my Father and you. I want to meet you. My mom told me that my father may not agree for you to come to his house, therefore she will like to meet me outside some where in the market.
I, Along with my Husband Jamid went out in the market and I met my mother. I informed my mother about the whole situation I was facing in Jamids house. My mother was sorrowful on this information and told me that she will discuss it with my father. She told me to remain in contact with her.
My mother told me that your father has suggested that if Jamid’s family is not nice to you then I should get divorce. I told my Husband that my father has advised me to get divorce from you and get rid of this SLAVERY. Hamid told me that his Family would not allow her to see her son for rest of the life. This is
I TOLD JAMID THAT I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT MY SON. Jamid told me that he loves me a lot. GOD will help me to be Free from this cruel and torturous situation.
I was looking after my son. But he was being educated and tough in the house by my in -Laws. I was not allowed to spend more time with my son except for his feeding and other necessities in the house. My son was being told that I am not a born Muslim; therefore, I am not a good mother. But my son always loved me more then any body else in the house. My mother in law and others in the house did not like it. They would insult me, beat me and torture me in front of my son.
MY ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY
One day I told my mom and my father to help me to live without these fears and tortures. They told me that they could help Jamid Financially to develop his own Business to live a separate independent life from his Family. This will remove all fears from my life. I became very happy from this offer of my parents. I told Jamid about this offer of my Parents. He told me that we should work on this proposal very secretly.
My father asked me to give him the estimate of Jamid’s new business plan. He also offered money that we could rent a separate house to live away from these fears and dangers. Jamid made a business plan and asked me to borrowU.S.$30,000.00 initially from my Parents. Jamid told me that he intends to return all this money to my Parents when he develops his business. My parents gave me US$30,000.00.I told my parents that Jamid intends to return this money to them on establishing his new business.
My husband rented a shop for carpet business and also rented a house to live near his new business. One fine morning we secretly left the house of Jamid’s parents and moved to our new house along with our son. It was a very GOOD DAY of my life. I was relaxed and comfortable after long period of fear and torture.
My husband had gained lot of experience while running the Carpet Shop of his Father. My father in law was an old and sick man. He could not run his carpet shop. The eldest son Wasim who used to beat me, was a spoiled son of his parents. He used to go for horse betting and other criminal activities. His friendship was with criminal people. He also could not run his father’s Carpet shop.
My husband and I worked very hard to establish our Carpet business. Within few months we were able to develop our new carpet business. My husband knew from where to buy good and cheep carpets from the villages and then sell it on good price. We started making good money in our business. We were able to send our son to good English medium school for his initial education.
A happy time started in our Life.
THE THREAT TO MY LIFE
My mother in law came to our house and told my husband that your elder brother Wasim is having financial crises and you employ him in your carpet business. I was listening to this conversation. She told my husband that if you refuse to my orders then I will not pardon you my
I told my husband to help his brother financially and not to involve his brother Wasim in our Business. My husband told his mothers that give me sometime to think. My husband went to the religious clergies to get their opinions in the light of the Holy book. They all told my Husband that if you don’t obey you’re Mother, and then GOD will send you to hellfire after the Day of Judgment. My husband got afraid of this situation and told me that he will have to obey the commandment of his mother and employ his elder brother in his Carpet Business.
I TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT YOU ARE COMMITING A VERY BIG MISTAKE.YOUR ELDER BROTHER IS A VERY CLEVER PLANNER AND HE WILL HARM YOU.
My husband employed his elder brother Wasim in our carpet business in OCTOBER, 2003.My husband used to take his elder brother in the rural areas from where he use to buy the oriental Carpets and bring it on a hired truck to our carpet shop and sell it. Normally this carpet purchasing trip used to take Two – Three days in the rural areas of
On 04/23/2004, during the carpet buying trip when my husband told his elder brother to hire the truck and take the carpets back to
My husband drove alone the truck full of carpet. Enroot he was robbed by few armed peopleand he could hardly escape his life. He was shocked and fearful when he reached home.
We estimated that we had lost carpets worth about 20,000.00 Dollars. I told my husband to report the matter to police. When he went to police station to make the complaint, nobody cared for him.
On 04/27/2004 my mother in law and her eldest son Wasim came to our house. They told my husband that he should now finish the Independent Carpet business. And join back his father’s carpet shop. They also advised my husband that we Should also move back to his parent’s home immediately. My husband replied That he cannot make any decision on this proposal. He should be left alone to Think about his losses.
On 04/30/2004 our house was vandalized and robbed by two persons with GUNS in their hands. They beat me on my head with the butt of the gun. They also threatened me that they will kill me soon and abduct my son.I informed this situation to my Parents, they advised me that my mother in law and Wasim may be behind these events and they want to make you Slave again.
On 05/02/2004 when I was going out of my home Two bearded armed persons followed me and threatened me that I will be killed if I do not surrender to the will of my mother in law and her son Wasim.
Few armed persons started stalking my husband in his carpet shop area.
On 05/07/2004 my mother in law and all her sons came in our house and threatened my husband that if he does not obey their orders within two months then they will report to the police and religious ministry that your wife has reverted back from Islam to her SIKH religion. This will make a Punishment of Death to your wife according to
My husband became fearful on this threat and told me that his mom and brothers are very clever and cunning. If they make this move then it will be very difficult for us to defend our self. He also told me that
I immediately called my mom and informed her about the threat of my mother-in-law, that I will be blamed to have gone back from the religion of Islam to Sikh religion. My mom discussed it with my father, who informed me that it is a very dangerous situation. If they produce evidence in their support than I will be BEHEADED according to Islamic Laws.
My parents told us to immediately move to
I lived as a Slave in
The society did not accept me as a converted Muslim. I was threatened to be killed at every stage.
The Islamic laws can hang me to death on the blame of going back on my religion from Islam to Sikh. I cannot go back to
Our Business was destroyed with a clever plan of Wasim, our house was vandalized and robbed, and we were threatened for our life. Our son was threatened to be kidnapped. Nobody came to help us. Police and Government never helped us.
Now I request you for Freedom and life for me and for my Family
PREEMY SINGH
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