“My father used to mistreat us. He was perennially quarrelling with my mother. Two years ago, he converted to Islam, left our house and married to a Muslim woman. We have been the focal point of bad talk in the town,” said the 14-year-old girl.

“Four months ago, I left my mom’s house and went to live with dad. I thought when I should resort to him, he would be kind and tender to me but nothing has changed. He beat me but his wife used to defend me and rebuke him for his ill treatment of me. Ten days ago, I was engaged to a Muslim young man. He’s fine but I got bored of the house and my father’s mistreatment,” she explained. [‘Ādil al-Shā’ir, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Feb. 19, p. 6] Read text in Arabic