I’m a 32-year-old woman from Syria. I left my home country because of the war and settled in Sweden, where I began rebuilding my life. It was there that I met my husband. He was a frequent visitor for business, and over time, we developed a relationship. He proposed, and in 2022, we got married. I moved to the UK on a spouse visa in 2023.
At first, life in the UK seemed promising. I started working and was trying to settle into my new life and marriage. But it didn’t take long for things to change. Within weeks, my husband’s behaviour shifted. I would return from work tired but still tried to prepare meals and maintain our home. Instead of appreciation, I was met with anger—sometimes he would even flip the table over if something upset him, often over something small or insignificant.
By end of 2023, the relationship had deteriorated. I kept trying to fix things and forgive his behaviour, hoping to save my marriage. But I was living in a cycle of domestic abuse. I experienced physical, sexual, and emotional violence, along with coercive control that gradually wore me down.
The verbal abuse became constant. He used insulting and degrading language so frequently that I became numb to it. The physical assaults worsened. He would slam my head against walls and windows, leaving me in pain, yet showing no remorse. The final incident was terrifying—he suffocated me during intercourse. I managed to escape by biting his arm. That was the moment I decided I couldn’t stay silent any longer. I reported him to the police.
That decision came with consequences. He blamed me for losing his job after the police report, even though it was his own aggressive behaviour and cannabis use that led to his dismissal. I had warned him repeatedly about how his drug use could affect his work, but he didn’t listen.
After reporting the abuse in February 2024, the police referred me to KMEWO for support. When I first connected with them, I was in a fragile place, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I had no family here, no one to turn to, and was trapped in a toxic, dangerous marriage.
Thanks to KMEWO, I was finally able to begin the process of healing. The first day in a refuge, a place where I felt truly safe for the first time in a long while. I was given space, care, and support. KMEWO took me seriously, listened without judgment, and made me feel seen and supported. They reminded me of my strength when I had almost forgotten it.
Support and Outcomes
KMEWO carried out a full risk assessment, identifying my situation as high-risk and referring my case to MARAC for multi-agency safeguarding. They helped me plan for my safety and connected me with a solicitor who assisted with applying for the MVDAC. As a result, I was granted three months’ leave to remain, which gave me breathing space to focus on my recovery and legal options.
I was placed into safe refuge accommodation. KMEWO also provided a letter in support of my immigration case and offered ongoing emotional support throughout.
Beyond immediate safety and legal help, they referred me to an employability advisor, and I’ve since started a training course. I’ve also joined group activities and workshops to help rebuild my confidence and create new connections. Bit by bit, I’m moving forward.
A New Chapter Begins
Although I still have many challenges ahead, I’m no longer living in fear. With the support of KMEWO, I’ve begun to feel hopeful again. I now understand my rights, and I have access to tools and support to build an independent life.
I’m deeply grateful to KMEWO for standing beside me when I needed it most. They gave me the strength to take my life back, and to believe in a future beyond abuse.