More Mohammadi Begums await justice in Pakistan & Middle East

Hyderabad: The return of Mohammadi Begum (45) from Pakistan who was tortured by her husband for 21 years has brought cheer to her family in Hyderabad but there are several women from the Old City who are languishing in Pakistan with no hope of returning back home.

Mohammadi Begum reunited with her parents-father Mohammed Akbar and mother Hajera Begum, residents of Bandlaguda.

Rihana, a social activist says, “Mohammadi Begum was lucky as the Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj intervened and made it possible for her return but there are several women and young girls married to Pakistani nationals who are trapped in Pakistan and in the Middle Eastern countries.

Rihana says, “The passports are taken away from them and they are not allowed to speak over the phone. Only a few manage to somehow contact their parents but in most cases they are not allowed to even move out of their houses. We receive several complaints from hapless parents but without help from the Indian Embassy it becomes difficult.”
Another woman, Naseem Begum of Tolichowki was rescued again due to the intervention of the Indian embassy.

Social activists and NGOs working in the rehabilitation of women say, ‘poverty forces parents to get their daughters married to men twice their age. In many cases they just leave it to luck and believe that their daughters would be treated well.’

Most parents fall to the smart talk by agents. Another 38-year-old woman Noor Jehan Begum of Bahadurpura was married to a Saudi national was tortured for several days. She was able to escape from her family and contacted her family in Hyderabad. She said that she knew at least two dozen women from Hyderabad who want to return but cannot escape from the clutches of their husbands in foreign lands.

It may be noted that in the last few months, MBT leader Amjedullah Khan has helped several women unite with their families in India.