BBC News
(news world) I do not want any other woman in the world to endure the torment I have endured in a young and forced marriage. My struggle is not only for Pakistan, Muslims and citizens of developing countries, but also for the United States and the rest of the world.
These are the words of Naila Amin, a Pakistani-American human rights activist.
The US state of New York recently introduced a law banning marriage under the age of 18. Naila Amin has long campaigned for a law banning child marriage.
This law is named after the Naila laws.
Naila Amin has received numerous awards in the United States and internationally for campaigning for underage marriage, and has addressed seminars at several American and international organizations.
Currently, only six of the 50 states in the United States have legalized child marriage. The rest of the states have no restrictions on underage marriage. After a minor marriage, any boy or girl can be sponsored on the basis of marriage in the United States.
"My struggle is not over yet," says Naila Amin. Campaigns and struggles are underway throughout the United States and around the world to legalize underage marriage. The United States is preparing a bill for the campaign at the federal level.
"I hope that soon another girl like me will not be tortured at the age of just fifteen for the sake of visa sponsorship, so-called family honor and false ego." No other girl like me will miss the golden age of her childhood by having problems at an early age. It is the collective responsibility of the United Nations for which I am shaking everyone's conscience
Who is Naila Amin?
Naila Amin was born in Formula, a village in Attock District, Punjab Province. She was four years old when she moved to the United States with her parents. At the age of seven, he was granted US citizenship. At the age of eight, she returned to her native Pakistan with her parents.
"I, my parents and my younger sisters are now American citizens," says Naila Amin. Unfortunately, my parents were illiterate. My mother knew nothing about the world at all.They were married at the age of fourteen.
He said that his area and family are completely traditional Pakhtun. Where men speak the language and daughters and sisters have to pay a price to keep the language. "It simply came to our notice then. My uncle told my father that Naila is ours. The father immediately became supportive. It was not a formal engagement but a promise of two elders.
Naila Amin said that the person with whom I was getting married was fifteen years older than me and I used to call her Lala. After that I came back to America and went to the village again at the age of 13. This time I was formally engaged and married. Now I was a little wiser.
It simply came to our notice then that the marriage was being arranged for a visa. I was being made a scapegoat for that. After the engagement, I returned to the United States and my attitude began to change. As soon as I started to feel bad at home, I left home.
He said: 'I arrived at a children's shelter at the age of fourteen, where I stayed for several months. I was the only Muslim girl in this children's shelter. There were no halal food facilities. When my father gave me some consolation, I went back to my parents.
"At the time, I didn't understand how it happened, but in 2015, we were back in our homeland in Pakistan," said Naila Amin. Where I was discharged at the age of 15 against my will.
Three attempts to escape and violence
"What happened to me after marriage," says Naila Amin. Just look at the case of Noor Muqaddam in Islamabad Pakistan and the situation that happened with it. I was lucky to survive and reach the United States. However, Noor Muqadam's fate did not help him.
"The first time I was abused was in the first two months of my marriage when I was raped by a man who was supposed to be my husband," she said.It had a very negative effect on me.
Naila Amin said: 'I thought life comes once. I can't waste my life like that. For this, I started making escape plans. I tried unsuccessfully to escape three times.
Explaining the details, Naila Amin said: 'For the first time, she reached the bus stand of Attock from her gown and from there she reached Islamabad by bus alone. I reached Islamabad but I didn't know what to do next. I was scared. I called one of my cousins and she took me back to the village.
The second time he tried to escape by changing his burqa but was caught again. The same thing happened the third time. All three times I was severely beaten by my mother-in-law and so-called husband. My so-called husband treated me very cruelly in addition to forcing me.
"The violence left scars on my neck and back. Bleeding from the nose and mouth. In cold weather, he would lay naked on the floor and say that this is your body but you have no control over it. He tried every tactic of violence.
Nature took pity
Naila Amin said, "During this time, I thought that they would kill me in the name of honor and bury me in a deserted place." I gave my case in-charge number to my cousin in the children's shelter in the United States and told him that my life was in danger.
He said: 'My cousin who did not help me escape but probably understood that if I did not get help immediately I could possibly be killed in the name of honor. He felt sorry for me or whatever. He called my case in the United States and informed me of the situation.
After which the US State Department and the US Embassy in Pakistan became active. My case in-charge called my father and said Naila is an American citizen. If he is harmed, he will be held responsible.
Naila Amin said that after that her father spoke to her so-called in-laws. He was reassured that the situation had worsened and that he had to go to the United States, otherwise anything could happen and that he would rectify the situation. My husband will be immediately sponsored on the basis of marriage and called to the United States.
One day, two months later, I was traveling to New York again," he said. When I arrived at New York Airport, there were uniformed police officers everywhere. The crew was told to take special care of me.
"All the passengers were shocked and upset that this girl was a terrorist who had been picked up by so many policemen. As soon as I got off the plane, they took me into their custody and took me to a children's shelter.
Early marriages are a major problem in Pakistan and India
An interview changed lives
"I lived in a children's shelter until I was 18," said Naila Amin. My education there was affected but I did some courses. When I was eighteen, I contacted my parents again. They apologized to me. My father told me he was wrong and I was right.
"I came back to my parents," he said. Attempts were made to resume education. During this time he also did some jobs etc. This is the event of 2015. I was also invited to a seminar organized by Women for Afghan Women, an organization working for the rights of Afghan women in the United States.
I was heartbroken when I was told my story. A female journalist was also present at the seminar. They recorded an interview on my story. Which caused panic.
Naila said that after this seminar and interview, she began to see a path on which she started walking blindly.
Success begins with practical struggle
Naila Amin said: 'I first filed a petition on change.com. In which he demanded a ban on underage marriage. He also told some of his own story. The petition was signed by many people. It was appreciated by all. I was also invited to various seminars.
He said: 'At the same time, I was active on social media. He helped many underage and forced marriages from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Kenya and other countries to bring them back to their homeland, the United States.
According to him, everyone's story is hair-raising. Many girls do not want their stories to come out. But now, in addition to living a contented life, they are also part of Naila's campaign.
At the same time, he said, he had launched a regular campaign for legislation. She emailed all the MPs, wrote letters. Have meetings with them. Program in public places. At first they were not noticed much but over time people started paying attention.
Now I'm working with my colleagues in states other than New York. A large group has gathered with us. We are now working to get the law banning underage marriage passed at the federal level in the United States.
There are still threats
Naila Amin says that now she is living a better and successful married life. I want to be a lawyer so that I can give justice to everyone. Which I am struggling for. This struggle is for the whole world. I was born in Pakistan, I miss Pakistan and my region very much.
"My heart wants me to go to my area," he said.But there is still fear in my heart. I don't want to go even though I want to. '
Naila Amin said that she is still receiving threats. It is often posted on various social media that she will be killed whenever the opportunity arises. "I am being falsely accused. I am told that I am doing all this for money even though I have spent my earnings on this struggle.
"I have seen the backwardness of women in my area. Be an eyewitness to the treatment meted out to them. I sincerely want to go to my area and work for the education of women. Create awareness in them. See if this wish is ever fulfilled in life! '
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