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Dh50 each, four men a day: man beats his wife into prostitution

DUBAI — “I was forced into prostitution by my husband,” claims a Pakistani mother-of-four, T.Z., who, unable to bear the torture anymore lodged a complaint with the Ajman Police and had her husband arrested recently.

For this act, T.Z., 27, is being harassed and threatened by friends and relatives of her husband. “These people visit me every day and ask me to withdraw the complaint that I filed with the police so that my husband can be set free,” says the upset woman. “If he is released from jail, he will not let me live in peace anymore, that is if he lets me live at all,” she added. “I need protection,” she says.

Narrating details of her four-year-long ordeal T.Z. originally from a village in Gujrat, Pakistan, says, “I have been married to Shabbir Ahmed for over 12 years. I came to the UAE four years ago, and settled down with him near Dhaid. It was then I found out that he wanted to use me as a means to make him financially strong, but what he wanted from me was unacceptable,” she says.

T.Z. said that her husband forced her into it by beating her black and blue and blackmailing her emotionally. “I pleaded with him everyday, but he used to bring three to four people every day, and sell me for Dh50 each,” she said. T.Z. explained that her husband used to lock up their four children in one room when these men visited. “My children underwent the horror of seeing their mother being beaten up and used everyday,” she said. T.Z. also said that she bore the whims of her husband thinking that he might realise his folly one day, but to no avail.

“Each day in the morning, he used to take me with him to the site where he worked, and make me sit in the car without the AC in the intense heat. I bore enough pain, until one day, I got a chance to escape from ‘my jail’ and ran to my neighbours asking for help,” she explained.

T.Z. said that the police informed her that her husband had hoarded nearly Dh150, 000 in his bank account. “I do not know how much he sent home and what else he has. But why did he use me like this?” she questioned.

T.Z. now is facing lots of pressure from her in-laws in Pakistan as well as her parents. “I have no safe place or money to go once I leave the UAE. Right now, my passport is with the police but as soon as I get it I will go back to Pakistan,” she said adding that her children did not want their father to come back home.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ashraf Mohammed, a neighbour of T.Z. who helped her reach the police and has been a strong support throughout said, “We knew that the woman was staying next to us, but we never saw her for two years. One day she came to us asking for help.”

He said once he knew the details, he contacted the police and also asked for financial help from the Pakistan Association. “I have also contacted the office of Pakistan’s well known Human Rights activist, Asma Jehangir who has promised to provide shelter to T.Z. upon her return to the country.” “At present, T.Z. is in dire need of money and emotional support because she has undergone much pressure,” he said.

Ajman Police when contacted have confirmed the arrest of Shabbir Ahmed last week. “The case is being investigated,” the Police sources said, refusing to provide further details about the case.