I was born in Iran. I married a man, in hopes of finding a new and happy life in the USA. But after we came to America, instead of finding a new life of freedom and joy, I found that my husband was becoming more like an Islamic Iranian. He isolated me. He would not let me make friends of Americans. He would not allow me to take the children to church.
He became more angry and more strict as the years went on. There were times when he wouldn't even speak to me, but would send me messages by hand written notes. My children became afraid of him, because he was always angry and mad. Finally my son, said: "Mommy take me away from here. I don't want to live with him in this house."
I wanted to escape but then realized how hard it is for and Islamic woman to divorce and leave an Islamic man. He told me that he would strip me of my money, my reputation, my property, and my children. He threatened to kill the children, burn the house, and even kill himself, if I left. Then he made up a story that he was dying of cancer, to keep me captive.
Finally,during the divorce, he told the court that if I took the children to a Christain church, that some Islamic man would come and kill or hurt the children in punishment. I could not believe that all of this was happening in the USA.
He even said that our marriage certificate said that in a divorce I was only entitled to 14 coins, no children, no community settlement...nothing.
My story is a story to escape, to survive, and to find love and joy, once free from this controlling man and this controlling religion.
I think it is a story that millions of women will appreciate. Women are captive and abused by men of all religions and nationalities. But Islamic women are particularly controlled and dominated in our world. It takes hard work and special skills to break out and escape. My story is that of a person who has escaped and found a better life.
Afsaneh Mansori
