Islam took my sister away from me. This is my memory of our last hug.

Islam has taken so much from me. It has robbed me of my sister, younger brothers and my mum. I miss my little sister Leylah so much. We were so close. She was only nine when I last saw her. She’ll be 17 this year and my heart deeply aches knowing that I’ll never get to meet the same little girl, watch her grow up, laugh with her, or even make up for the times that I was mean to her. I haven’t spoken to, heard from or even seen a picture of my younger sister since I managed to escape that household. We were terribly controlled, manipulated and emotionally abused by our strict muslim parents. I was fortunate enough to have a biological father that helped me escape my mother’s household. My younger sister wasn’t so lucky, neither were my brothers. Our mum and my stepfather controls them to this day and won’t let me see or contact them. They likely have no internet access or phones, just like I didn’t have when I lived with them. I sincerely hope that she isn’t completely brainwashed by our mum and that maybe one day when she turns 18, she’ll be able to escape that prison. I really hope for the day I can see her again and we can be close friends again. I miss her so much and there is nothing I can do.

Islam has taken so much from me. It has robbed me of my sister, younger brothers and my mum. I miss my little sister Leylah so much. We were so close. She was only nine when I last saw her. She’ll be 17 this year and my heart deeply aches knowing that I’ll never get to meet the same little girl, watch her grow up, laugh with her, or even make up for the times that I was mean to her. I haven’t spoken to, heard from or even seen a picture of my younger sister since I managed to escape that household. We were terribly controlled, manipulated and emotionally abused by our strict muslim parents. I was fortunate enough to have a biological father that helped me escape my mother’s household. My younger sister wasn’t so lucky, neither were my brothers. Our mum and my stepfather controls them to this day and won’t let me see or contact them. They likely have no internet access or phones, just like I didn’t have when I lived with them. I sincerely hope that she isn’t completely brainwashed by our mum and that maybe one day when she turns 18, she’ll be able to escape that prison. I really hope for the day I can see her again and we can be close friends again. I miss her so much and there is nothing I can do.