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Dian, 25, from Indo-nesia:
"I would do anything to make him Asian"

 

Tina, 20, from Germany: "You have become Muslim - how could you do that to your family?"

 

Nadia, 25, British-born Pakistani: "I am fortunate to live in two worlds"

 

Mahsa, 26, from Iran: "My Catholic boyfriend is welcome"

 

 

 

Religion - peace or repression?
5 Muslim girls reveal their experiences

'You will be banned
from the family'

Although they have been living in London for three generations, the Bangladeshi traditions of N.’s family remain.

Her father strictly condemns the British way of having a relationship before marriage.

“You won’t belong to the family any more,” N. was told after she had introduced her Christian boyfriend to her parents.

The Muslim girl with two university degrees does not want to go into detail, nor does she want to give any names.

 

 

She is too afraid her family might find out she is still dating her lover.

Although N. had told them the relationship was finished, her father did not talk to her for a whole year.

Today the 22-year-old leads a double life: at home as the well-behaved daughter who is regularly introduced to potential grooms, but pretends none of them is suitable for her.

"I find it heartbreaking that I love my religion but cannot love my partner of choice regardless of his religion and beliefs," she said.

If she manages to get away from work and family life, she dreams together with her boyfriend of a future together – without being banned from the large family circle of parents, sibling, cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and grandparents that she loves.
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