“I came to the UK as a 15-year-old child refugee with 100 dollars in my pocket, with no family support, and very little formal education, because my entire childhood was spent suffering from the physical and mental trauma of the Afghan conflict, as well as in refugee conditions.
“My expectation upon arrival was to find safety and safety in the UK. And then I was also showed compassion by the British government. I was given refugee status. And that enabled me to feel safe. Initially, I was working in the shop as a kitchen porter, and in the evening, I was studying.
“I was inspired to become a doctor because of my own suffering in a refugee camp. I had tuberculosis. I found my second home in the UK. Without the safety, I wouldn't have been able to pursue my dream. It's not just about highlighting my resilience as much as highlighting major issues both ways in society as well as how people grow in the society helping the environment can play.
“Because of compassion and safety in the UK, I was able to make use of the amazing world-class opportunities such as a health care and education system. I got five As in my A levels, which enabled me to get into Cambridge University, studying medicine, and I completed my studies at Harvard University.
“I ultimately became a doctor in 2010, because I was given the opportunity to find my feet, find safety in the UK. This is important because it's up to many other people. I've started making friends from PTSD and post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. So, it wasn't just a smooth journey. I was working hard, but I was suffering from social isolation.
“I think many people resonate with some people with mental health issues, even if they don't suffer from PTSD and depression being away from home. But ultimately, it was bringing the two sides together. Now I feel like a proud, Afghan British.
“I haven't lost my values and I feel it (triumphing over atrocities) is possible. Britain is home, and whenever I go to Afghanistan, it is back home for me as well,” an ex-refugee from Afghanistan, now popularly known and respected as Dr Waheed Arian, NHS Emergency Doctor and author of “In The Wars” told Asian Voice.
While Dr Arian’s incredibly inspiring story gives a tremendous amount of hope to more refugees and sufferers from developing countries, it is unfortunate that so many years later, it is difficult to say that our children are safe.
Taliban demands a list of young girls and widows
Today, while the world grapples with the pandemic deaths, Covid widows, Covid orphans, it has been reported by The Sun that the Taliban, fighting with Afghanistan forces to take control of a large part of the war-torn country, has issued a statement ordering local religious leaders to give them a list of girls over 15 years of age and widows under 45, reports have said. This comes right after Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was allegedly killed by the Taliban while on his deputation in Afghanistan. According to reports, the Taliban has promised for them to be married to their fighters and taken to Pakistan's Waziristan, where they will be converted to Islam and reintegrated.
Save young children and girls
As children in Britain will remain home for the next few months until schools reopen in September, it is vital to advocate their protection and wellbeing because many British youngsters, especially children of immigrants may be taken to their roots in countries like Pakistan, only never to return. Many of these children might be at risk of being forced to marry or be enslaved and become victims of honour killing.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Shaista Gohir OBE, Co-Chair Muslim Women’s Network UK said, “Every summer holidays we always need awareness-raising of elevated risks of forced marriages and honour-based abuse associated with trips abroad to particular countries. Of course, covid restrictions means that risks are further increased as victims could be stuck abroad for a long time especially because of the costs of quarantine hotels.
“So, I urge the government’s Foreign Office to ensure that any victims that are supported to return to the UK are exempt from paying the hotel fees. Muslim Women’s Network UK campaigned successfully previously so that forced marriage victims no longer had to cover repatriation costs for under 18s which was subsequently upgrades to also include adult victims as well.”
“The police are very alert to the seasonal possibilities,” said Commissioner Cressida Dick in an exclusive interview when asked what the police are doing to safeguard British Asian youngsters during summer holidays- at risk of being taken to foreign lands for forced marriages, often culminating into honour killings after resistance. 34% of such victims taken to Pakistan from the UK in 2019 were under 18.
“We're always trying to improve. I do think we are at the forefront of the work with the UK Government and other police services in protecting people as far as we reasonably can,” Dame Dick added.
Sharon Bryan – Head of Partnerships & Development of Domestic Abuse Services – National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) told us, “As Covid-19 restrictions, including travel restrictions, start to lift we all need to be extra vigilant. Young people are at risk more than ever of forced marriage, female genital mutilation and ultimately, honour killing.
“We need to all look for the signs – an unexpected holiday during the school summer holidays, children not coming back to school in September? Telling a friend, they may be getting married soon! The Forced Marriage Unit gave advice and guidance in 759 cases, in 2020, which were related to possible forced marriage and/or possible FGM. This number represents a decrease of 44% on the average number of cases referred annually between 2011 and 2019.
“This is thought to be because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions on overseas travel. Forced marriage can happen to both young women and young men and is not a problem confined to just one country.
“The top five countries with the highest number of cases (excluding the UK), in 2020 were Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan and Somalia. These are the countries where the forced marriage or FGM is due to take place, where it has taken place or where the ‘spouse’ is residing.
“We need to raise more awareness of this breach of human rights by being more aware, by training schools, both staff and pupils, to spot the signs and by reporting it. Even if you are not sure. If there is any doubt at all, report it. You may just save someone’s life!”
In a recent historic move, virginity tests will be criminalised in England and Wales as charities have warned that the abusive procedure is leaving women and girls at risk of so-called honour killings.
Last year, Karma Nirvana, a charity campaigning to end honour-based abuse in the UK, shared data with The Times revealing a 75 per cent increase in calls about virginity testing and hymenoplasty to its national helpline. Most people who reached out were aged between 17 and 35 and included rape victims who were being forced into hymen repair by their families. Others were being coerced into having a test to prove that they were a virgin before getting married.
Strategy to tackle violence against women and girls launched
As fears of forced marriages and honour killings increase, following the tragic case of Sarah Everard in March and the subsequent public conversation on the safety of women and girls, the Home Secretary has reopened the Government’s Call for Evidence on tackling crimes that disproportionately affect women.
The Home Office received an unprecedented 160,000 further responses over two weeks, taking the total to over 180,000 responses which have helped shape the new strategy.
On July 21, Home Secretary Priti Patel published the Government’s new strategy to ensure women and girls are safe everywhere - at home, online and on the streets. 20,000 more police officers will be recruited to make streets safer.
In a statement, Home Secretary Priti Patel said, “The safety of women and girls across the country, wherever they are, is an absolute priority for me. It is unacceptable that women and girls are still subject to harassment, abuse, and violence, and I do not accept that violence against women and girls is inevitable. I am determined to give the police the powers they need to crack down on perpetrators and carry out their duties to protect the public whilst providing victims with the care and support they deserve. This strategy, shaped by the responses of those who bravely came forward and shared their stories and experiences, will deliver real and lasting change.”
The strategy sets out a clear ambition to increase support for victims and survivors, increase the number of perpetrators brought to justice and reduce the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the long term. To tackle violence against women and girls, the Department for Education will work with the Office for Students to tackle sexual harassment and abuse in higher education (including universities) and will review options to limit the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements in cases of sexual harassment in higher education.
The Government has also promised that it will continue to listen to the brave voices of victims, survivors, and the public to hear their views and opinions on tackling these crimes, including through the creation of a new online tool ‘StreetSafe’.
This platform will build on the Safer Streets Fund and provide women and girls with a way to anonymously and quickly pinpoint areas where they have felt unsafe and say why – be it from a lack of lighting or CCTV or because of the people around them via a simple online platform. This information will further build local intelligence and be used by Police and Crime Commissioners to work with local authorities and other stakeholders to improve community safety and take more strategic action, including designing out crime. If a crime is being committed people should dial 101 or 999.
A new national policing lead on Violence Against Women and Girls will report to the Home Secretary-chaired National Policing Board. A £5 Million ‘Safety of Women at Night’ Fund, in addition to the £25 million Safer Streets Fund Round 3, focuses on the prevention of violence against women and girls in public spaces at night, including in the night-time economy. This could include targeting parks and alleyways, and routes from bars, restaurants and nightclubs as we see a return to the night-time economy.
An additional £25 million will be invested into the Safer Streets Fund focused on increasing the safety of public spaces for all, with a particular focus on areas of concern for women and girls.
