I was catching up with a few friends of mine of whom one works for the immigration services here in the UK. My friend related a story to me that really shook my nerve. A Pakistani lady who was married to a guy here in Leicester through an arrangement made by the parents came to this city looking forward to her new life in the UK. She was shown the pictures of her husband and thought he looked delightful.
When she arrived at her new house, she found a husband who was physically and mentally disabled and in a permanent wheelchair. The pictures she was shown were of many years ago. She was stuck. In addition the Asian culture often stipulates that the wives move in with their husband's family where they are expected to take care of the household and her husband's family so this lady did not only inherit a husband that required full-time care but his family's household as well. He needed everything done for him from showering and using the toilet to brushing his teeth and eating. When she finished the house chores and put her husband to bed, his brothers would sneak in and do whatever they pleased with her. It was literally modern day slavery. The neighbours, who heard her cries every night as she was being assaulted, finally called the police.
The police came to her rescue and handed her over to the immigration services. The problem is she arrived in this country on a marriage visa which means she cannot seek asylum or remain by any other means. If she returned to Pakistan her family will not accept her back. As far as they're concerned, she has betrayed the family and has brought shame. There is no care for her safety or well-being. Long story short; she can't stay in the UK but has nowhere to go back to.
This is where the law really lets people down. My friend was explaining how she has fallen within the loopholes of the law. Cases like hers can't be accommodated by the immigration services. She faces deportation by the end of next week and there is nothing that can be done. This is so heartbreaking. What dawned on me was how many similar cases are happening right at our doorsteps that we're unaware of because of women like this lady who will not speak of their torment? We live in such a self-centred world where we might be living next door to neighbours we've never greeted.
On a different note, the News of the World phone hacking scandal has literally taken over the English airwaves. Rupert Murdoch is leading every headline and conversation. Many people had been asking why he didn't fire chief exec Rebekkah Brooks. Luckily she has since resigned but my guess is she had one too many pointers on Murdoch that he needed to be kept hidden...
I really hope the inquiry dishes out everything they have been up to. To think of all the lives they've invaded in the name of news gathering is a disgrace to say the least.
