Films and Documentaries

Abandoned by her parents, Sameem Ali spent six and a half years growing up in a children’s home. When she was told that her family wanted to take her back she couldn’t wait to start her new life with them. On her return her mother began to beat her and her unhappiness drove her to self-harm. So Sameem was excited when she boarded a plane with her mother to visit Pakistan for the first time. It was only after they arrived in her family’s village that she realized she wasn’t there on holiday. Aged just thirteen, Sameem was forced to marry a complete stranger and raped on her wedding night. When pregnant she was made to return to the UK where she suffered further abuse from her family. After finding true love, Sameem fled the violence at home and escaped with her young son. She believed she had put her horrific experiences behind her, but was unprepared for the consequences of violating her family’s honour.