Sadia had been at university in Pakistan when she took part in an arranged marriage and moved to London two years ago. The 26-year-old said: “When I was living in Pakistan I thought people in London would be more modern, but when I got married and moved here to be with my husband, his family was more traditional than my own.”
Sadia moved into a house with her husband and his parents and his two grown-up brothers and immediately the relationship became abusive. “Everyone thought I was lucky because I had a new big home,” Sadia said quietly. “I was supposed to cook and clean and do everything for them. I wasn’t allowed to go out on my own.”
