Women's Survivor Group - Zarin's story

Zarin is a single mother to three children. She is still waiting to be granted refugee status in the UK. Every day she is terrified she could be sent back.

“At home they threatened to kill me and my children because of my husband’s work, I had no escape. Masked men threatened us with guns. They would follow me and my children everywhere.

“My choice was stay and live in danger with my children, try to leave my husband and face honour killing by his family or try to run away to save us all.

“I found smugglers to help us escape, but during the journey they locked me and my children up for weeks. I was so scared but I had to stay strong for the children. The smugglers were very bad people. I had to do whatever they said to protect my life, to protect my children. As a woman you are powerless, they had ultimate control and I had nothing."

The people who work here are kind and sympathetic. When I see Ahlam, I feel like I am seeing my family.

“Eventually they let us out and put us in a lorry with a small amount of water, bread and dates. For days it was dark, all we could see was the ceiling, we couldn’t breathe, and we were so scared. When we were finally freed, we were crying and a policewoman hugged me. I didn’t even know we were in the UK.

“After everything I had been through I was destroyed internally, I couldn’t integrate, I was isolated, I was always in fear. I was defeated. I had no hope at all. I felt like all the doors were closed.

“When I was referred to Freedom from Torture it became a place I can rely on, a shelter. The people who work here are kind and sympathetic. When I see Ahlam, I feel like I am seeing my family.

“Freedom from Torture is essential for refugees like me, so much has changed since being in touch with this organisation. I definitely think that if I had found it earlier my mental health would be much better.

“All my life I have seen women not allowed any freedom, we must have permission to even see our own families. They don’t want us to work, they want us to be nothing. But the group taught me what a woman is. We have rights.

Will you help provide solidarity, strength and hope for women like Zarin?