I am L****; a 35 year from Algeria. I married H***** in 2016, who was introduced to me by my sister. At that time, I was a successful employee living with my mother. I also have a brother who lives in the UK.
I was happy when I met H*****, as in my country, shame is attached to any girl who reaches 30 and is still single. I was excited and wanted to have a nice family and children. H***** shared the same desire and told me that he always wanted a wife from his home country. During our second meeting he mentioned that he had an unsuccessful marriage with an English woman due to cultural differences. On our third meeting he disclosed that he has a child but failed to mention that the child was autistic with aggressive behaviour.
Previously I visited my brother several times in London, so H***** asked me to join him using a holiday visa and promised that he will apply for spousal visa, so I joined him in 2017. However, he deceived me and formally denied his marriage to me at the Home Office. Eventually he threw me out of his house. I was scared of him as once he told me that he will pay a woman to kill me. Over a period of time, I was abused emotionally, sexually, physically and financially. I was locked at home with no money or food, isolated from outside. He even deprived me from registering with a GP, study English or to learn how to use public transport and shopping. I was looking after his disabled son, cleaning, cooking and was imprisoned in my house with no access to any support. I was beaten by him and his son, called names, terrorised, bullied, insulted and deprived of my rights as a wife.
I was extremely lonely, vulnerable, isolated and had no social network. When my neighbour referred me to KMEWO, my connections with them was life-saving. KMEWO listened to me, supported me emotionally and practically. Initially when I tried to contact a solicitor by myself, they asked me to pay more than £3000 which I never could. With KMEWO’s advice, my case was treated as Modern Slavery, and was supported by legal aid. Although I am currently still waiting for Home Office decision; but I am in a safe place and I get financial support.
Identified needs and actions:
- Risk Assessment & Safety planning
- Referral to Immigration solicitor and modern slavery
- Referral to external organisation to deal with her application for safe accommodation and financial support as a victim of modern slavery.
- Referral to family solicitor for non-molestation order and divorce
- Referral to other services by KMEWO: Counselling in Arabic, ESOL course, self-care groups and mentoring.
Outcomes:
- Plans in place for support and personal safety
- Supported by an immigration solicitor under legal aid
- Obtained a Non Molestation Order with KMEWO’s support letter for legal aid
- She is now in a safe accommodation, have financial support
- Provided support letter to Home Office to stay close to her family
- Better mental health through Counselling in Arabic language
- Started ESOL courses
- Emotional support and confidence building by attending self-care groups
- Allocated mentor to her to help her build her social network
- Invited her for KMEWO events and sharing her experience before and after meeting KMEWO