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Survivor's Stories
(the names of survivors have been changed to protect their confidentiality)
Samina 23 came to the United States from a refugee camp on the Kenyan-Somali border. Her family married her off to a man who lived in Cincinnati USA. She was educated in schools in the refugee camp and was able to speak, read and write English. After she came to the United States, her husband imprisoned her in their apartment. She was made to sleep on a mattress alone and was sexually and physically abused by her husband. After over six months of abuse, Samina ran away to a distant relative’s house in Indianapolis. The relative was scared of keeping her and was afraid that her husband would find her. Through the Women’s Fund Samina was brought into the shelter. We were able to obtain a divorce for her and also finish the processing of her refugee paperwork. She was provided with job training and was able to move out of the shelter and is currently looking for employment as an office clerk. She wants to continue her education in the United States.
Mehr 45 and her two children fled an abusive situation in Nevada and came to Indiana. She had been married for over fifteen years to a man who regularly beat her. In some cases, her abuser would even force her teenage son to beat his mother. Even though they had moved far away, her abuser was able to find her address and showed up demanding to take the children and threatening to kill her. When the police were called, Mehr’s husband openly told them that as soon as they left, he would pour gasoline on her and burn her alive even if it meant going to jail for his entire life. The police brought her and children to the Julian Center where she was brought to the MAI Women’s Fund Office. The Women’s Fund was able to assist Mehr in obtaining neccesities for starting a new life in addition to legal advice on custody and divorce issues. Today, Mehr is working as an executive in Indianapolis and she and her children have begun a new life free from abuse.
Leila was a young graphic artist living in Egypt. Her parents, conservative Muslims were delighted when she received a proposal from a young professional living in the United States. They had a beautiful wedding in Egypt and her husband Hussain seemed very attentive and loving. However, things changed drastically when the couple moved to the United States. Leila was given a store room with a mattress to sleep in and her husband routinely abused her physically and sexually. He refused to introduce her to any of his friends and often told her to hide when any of his work colleagues came to the house. Eventually, he told her she had to get a job because she was living off him for free. He also kept threatening that she was illegal and he could ask the police to arrest her at any time. He had another girlfriend at his work and spent all of his time with her saying that Leila should be a good wife and tolerate that. Several times, Leila had to be taken to the doctor because of the physical and emotional abuse. One day, he dropped Leila off at her work and said she was no longer welcome back to his apartment and that he was dropping all her belongings at a motel. He told her she should go back to Egypt. Leila came to the Women’s Fund at the referral of her physician. We are providing her with legal representation, counseling and other services in order to rehabilitate her.
Tanya is originally from Turkey and came into the Julian Center with her ten year old son Ali. When Tanya and Ali walked into the shelter, Ali was carrying a school project he had made for class the next day. Tanya fled her home after the police were called for the sixth time after her husband began to physically assault her. In addition, to the physical abuse, Tanya’s husband, a pilot forced her to work as a housekeeper at a local hotel. He showed up every payday to collect her checks and forced Tanya to walk to and from her home even though she was making payments on her car. The Women’s Fund brought Tanya and Ali into the shelter and is providing her with legal representation, counseling and schooling for Ali.
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