Dear Zulaika:

It is heartbreaking for me to read your short post. I feel such sadness for you and a great wish for your life to become better than it has been.

I also feel disgust- disgust at the behavior of your uncle and cousins. For their sexual pleasure, they hurt a child. They hurt an innocent child, year after year, for pleasure.

And then, your mother now being okay with it, that disgusts me too.

You wrote that you don’t want to disappoint your family- but Zulaika, do you see how terribly they disappointed you?

You have no moral obligation to follow the rules and customs of your family and society. You have no debts to pay. If there is an option for you to no longer be a victim, to set yourself free from future abuse and/ or misery otherwise, please make use of that option.

I hope you post again.

anita