After Mashid Rezai, from northern Iran, recovered from her burns in
hospital, her own father beat her heavily as she ‘shamed’ her family.
Now 36, she remains terribly scarred and was forced to flee to London to escape her father. Her mother was her father’s fourth wife. “He didn’t have children with his other wives. My mother told me that all three of his previous wives ran away because he beat them,” Rezai explained.
“I remember once he tied my hands and feet with rope to a piece of wood and he and my mother beat me with another piece of wood,” Mashid, who is too ashamed of her scars to be photographed, said.
Growing up in a remote village, Mashid had a friend named Zainab. She was 9 years of age when she was asked for by a much older man. Desperate to escape the marriage being forced upon her, Zainab burnt herself.
Less than a year after her friend’s suicide, Mashid’s father announced that she too had been found a husband – despite the fact his daughter was just 11.
Desperate to avoid marriage and with her friend Zainab’s example in
mind, Mashid ran into the kitchen, took out a bottle of paraffin, doused
herself in the contents and set herself ablaze.
Mashid spent the next three months unconscious in hospital in Arak, although even that wasn’t enough to spare her from the wrath of her father who was furious that his plans had been foiled and fearful for the family honour.
Now 36, she remains terribly scarred and was forced to flee to London to escape her father. Her mother was her father’s fourth wife. “He didn’t have children with his other wives. My mother told me that all three of his previous wives ran away because he beat them,” Rezai explained.
“I remember once he tied my hands and feet with rope to a piece of wood and he and my mother beat me with another piece of wood,” Mashid, who is too ashamed of her scars to be photographed, said.
Growing up in a remote village, Mashid had a friend named Zainab. She was 9 years of age when she was asked for by a much older man. Desperate to escape the marriage being forced upon her, Zainab burnt herself.
Less than a year after her friend’s suicide, Mashid’s father announced that she too had been found a husband – despite the fact his daughter was just 11.
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Mashid Rezai’s hands
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Mashid spent the next three months unconscious in hospital in Arak, although even that wasn’t enough to spare her from the wrath of her father who was furious that his plans had been foiled and fearful for the family honour.
When Mashid left hospital, it was to return to her parents’ house
after her former fiance rejected her because, as she reveals, he now saw
her as ‘dirty’ and ‘ugly’.
By then aged 13, Mashid stole some money from her parents and escaped to Tehran where she went straight to hospital. A plastic surgeon there took pity on the child, eventually helping her to escape Iran and her violent father for good.
Now living in London, Mashid remains terribly scarred but is starting to move on with her life, helped by the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation.
By then aged 13, Mashid stole some money from her parents and escaped to Tehran where she went straight to hospital. A plastic surgeon there took pity on the child, eventually helping her to escape Iran and her violent father for good.
Now living in London, Mashid remains terribly scarred but is starting to move on with her life, helped by the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation.
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