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There is no shame in having been a victim of abuse, says Frieha Altaf

There is no shame in having been a victim of abuse, says Frieha Altaf

Frieha Altaf and Maheen Khan open up about why they came forward with their abuse stories
Updated 17 Jan, 2018

“I knew that there would be repercussions when I confessed to having been abused in my childhood,” tells celebrity and PR maven Frieha Altaf to Images.

“I knew that I would be asked questions about a topic that hurt me deeply and scarred me for life. But when the #metoo campaign went viral around the world, it made me realize that it was important to speak out. There is no shame to having been a victim of abuse. There is no shame in talking about it because it helps one address a topic that has long been considered a taboo and been shushed away by victims’ families.”

“In Pakistan, we shy away from any topic that makes us feel uncomfortable and our children sometimes end up suffering,” she continues. “It is important because by being vocal, I can tell parents to keep an eye on their children and to listen to their children if they complain about something.”

Frieha’s confessions on Twitter were made this weekend and around the same time, designer Maheen Khan and actress Nadia Jamil also admitted to having been victims of child abuse.

These admissions, made by women belonging to the country’s educated upper crust, undeniably did make many of us sit up and take notice. Abuse exists; on the streets, in poverty-stricken alleyways, but also within the homes of the educated and the privileged, often inflicted upon young children by trusted members of the family, domestic servants, tuition teachers or members of the religious clergy who parents believe can do no harm.

“It’s about time that we take a good look at ourselves as a society,” says Maheen Khan. “Children have gotten abused around us and we have quietly swept it under the covers, standing by and letting it happen, refusing to speak against it because we feel ashamed. These children get traumatised for life. They grow up into people who need psychiatric help. I know of parents whose children have come to them with complaints and they have refused to believe them because they can’t imagine that an old trusted domestic servant could be doing this.”

Maheen Khan, on her Twitter feed, spoke about being molested by the maulvi who came to teach her the Quran. In Frieha’s case, a domestic servant molested her at age six. “All I remember is that I was very scared because even at this young age, one knows that certain things are wrong. My parents had been away when the abuse began and it continued even after they returned. Finally, I told my mother. She fell apart and had a nervous breakdown.”

“My father immediately fired the servant, reported him to the police and had him deported. As a consequence of this, our neighbours realized that their own servant had also been doing the same thing to their daughter,” she says. “My father promptly hushed up the matter but at least he had listened to me. I am so relieved that my parents took me seriously when I told them what was happening and didn’t presume that I was imagining things.”

“It was only later that I realised the impact that the abuse made on my life. As a teenager, I was rebellious. I didn’t want to listen to my parents because deep down, I didn’t trust them anymore. They hadn’t been able to protect me. I got married thrice, to the wrong men, getting into abusive relationships and never knowing that I deserved better. At age 35, when I was on my own and needed to earn enough to support my two children, I finally began to feel better. I went for counseling and I decided to stop caring about what people would say. But I made so many mistakes because of that one traumatic experience that had eroded away my self-esteem.”

According to Frieha, she contemplated for a long time before speaking out. “I now want to work towards eradicating this abuse.”

Maheen Khan asserts, “Parents need to know: please listen to your children, take heed, teach them, warn them, talk to them openly about what is appropriate and what isn’t. There is a severe lack of education that is feeding this horrible defect in our society and we need to correct it.”

Comments

Asif kashmiri Jan 17, 2018 01:51pm
I salute these brave women !
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Jawaid Islam Jan 17, 2018 03:00pm
A must for parents to be on the alarm!
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Thoroughthinker Jan 17, 2018 04:26pm
Although very bold and difficult to reveal such horrible incidents but the whole effort would go waste if corrective measures are not taken in time under the wake of such revelations.
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haider Jan 17, 2018 04:59pm
Very sad to hear the child abuse cases. The life styles and outlook these ladies chose seems to be the result of that abuse in childhood. Its brave of them to express it.
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Sidra Jan 17, 2018 05:02pm
Pakistani men who have been victims of abuse as children should also be made to feel brave enough to step forward.
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Riaz A Khan Jan 17, 2018 05:09pm
It needs a lot of moral courage to state what has happened to these most respectable ladies I do recall some identical cases which occurred in mid sixtees when self proclaimed Field Martial Ayub Khan was in power
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Asma Jan 17, 2018 05:13pm
At least they have courage to speak. But let me add here as a girl, If it's just about you, no girl/woman would ever hesitate for a second because she is amazingly strong but it affects the whole family including parents, siblings, and married one's. Moreover the family gets emotional and violates law ultimately ending in making it a life long lesson for girl to never speak about it for many reasons. As a child, I don't believe if somebody isn't molested or abused. The society we're living in has got such huge issues swept under the covers just because the society is too respectable and moral to allow speaking about it. An oxymoron I've never been able to understand. Well educated and apparently gentlemen have done heinous acts. Society is opening , that's great. It will expose all such respectable faces sooner or later. Perhaps it will make society a better place to live in in future.
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Asma Jan 17, 2018 05:14pm
@Thoroughthinker absolutely
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Ek bunda-i-a khuda Jan 17, 2018 05:29pm
What could be worse than to show how much we have fallen that a cleric abusing a child, a teacher doing immoral act, someone whom you trust abusing our child and the worst part all of them being a parent themselves doing such shameful things
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Dr. Tanveer Jan 17, 2018 06:36pm
I cannot help appreciating their bravery by revealing this. Whatever they said is absolutely right. This is very important and sensitive issue. We must educate our children. "Our children, Our responsibility" should be the motive. If you cannot protect your children, dont produce them !!!!!
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N abidi Jan 17, 2018 10:15pm
The media can keep on this abuse stories to keep giving it traction. By high lighting the weakness of the law, the needs to show the abusers, their faces, so at least the shame is on them. In Pakistan the media always high light the victims and puts the shame on the victims,this culture needs to change. Do dramas and films, cartoons,teach how in normal way you can create a culture of safety,give people skills! 84%of Pakistan population is uneducated, the education should develop scnerios to fit this reality!
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Waqar Jan 18, 2018 05:53am
I admire them for this 1000%.
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