Sold: Story of Modern-day Slavery

Zana Muhsen and her sister Nadia were thrilled when they learned that their father had paid for them to go on the trip of a life time. Faraway from their native Birmingham, they'd have two blissfull weeks of Sea, sand, and spectacular views in their fathers yemeni homeland. Due to legal discrepancies concerning the then 14 year old Nadia, Zana, 15 went on ahead of her little sister. Expecting blissful views, bare-back dessert camel rides and tropical seas - what she got was the shock of her life. On arriving in the desolate far away land Zana discovered to her horror that her father had literally sold herself and her sister into marriage and that, unable to warn her sister of her impending doom, they were now helplessly trapped! They suffered rape, several beatings and the terrifying ordeal of Child Birth in the raw with no pain relief or hospital care.

It took eight long torturous years for Zana to escape her life of hell, but when she touched back down on to English soil the world was desperate to hear her story. An now here it is, in her own words. This is a remarkable true story of one families fight against red tape, racism and beaurocracy. It is a story that left nations divided, a family torn apart and two cultures to clash head long into each other.

Sadly, though Zana finally made it home, her story does not have a happy ending. Sadly, Nadia did not manage to escape, and Zana was forced to leave her baby behind. (Her story is continued in 'A Promise To Nadia')

This story is utterly unbelievable, how one person can be so callous and unappologetic as their father, selling his own flesh and blood into a live of slavery. But while this book is painful and tremendously tear-jerking to read it make you appreciate how lucky you are to live in a civilization where you have free-will. It really shows you the other side of life, the power of hope, love and belief and above all the strength of the human spirit.

***Highly Recommended*** (8/8 people found this helpful)

This has to be one of the most moving and disturbing stories I have ever read. "SOLD" is about Zana Muhsen, a young 15 year old and her younger sister, Nadia 14, who lived in Birmingham. Their father tricked them into going to Yemen. They willingly went to Yemen thinking that they were going on a "holiday of a life time". But instead they were sold by their father and thrown into an illegal marriage. They were made slaves and used for sex.

This story tells us of a traumatic experience of two young girls and their mother's battle to free her children. I am actually appalled that the government allows this to happen and the way women are treated in remote villages. This book shows how people (MEN) can be so naïve and to misunderstand the Quran and treat their women like slaves. This saddens me to think that this STILL happens.

This book is a good read and is highly recommended.

Sold-by thier father (15/15 people found this helpful)

This is a story about to girls sold by their father too young boys from villages in the Yemen or possibly an arrangement done between the fathers of the two boys and the girls' father.

THe girls thought they were going on holiday with Mohammed and his dad. Originally it was planned that only Nadia goes to see the Yemen for a break from everything that happen to her in the UK over the months. Then Zana the older protective sister felt that she should accompany her sister to protect her incase something happened to her.

Thier father had arranged marriages for these girls. Nadia got married to Mohammed. She realised she was married when she reached the Yemen. Zana was married to another boy who was her dad's friends' son. Fake marriege certiificate were drawn up without the girls and their mother being aware of this. The fathers passed the girls as married without the girls saying I do three times (which is islam law for marriages). They were forced to live with husbands that were not really husbands).

The girls were left to doing daily chores as cooking, bring water daily from te wells (which were miles away from where they lived), cleaning, etc, while the rest of the families just watched them. Zana struggled more then Nadia as she was made to live with a husband that was a thin ill boy and she hated her father in-law.

Zana wanted to go home and Nadia too but not without her children. Therefore Zana decided to leave with the help of the UK press leaving behind a son. On the other hand Nadia stayed behid to be with her children.

This is a story of a mother and sister fighting to bring thier beloved Nadia home from her poor life in the Yemen and back where her family were.

This is a story about two sisters that were inseparable but had to live apart.

Countries such as the Yemen mix tradition, culture with religion and make their own law; which these girls had to live by.

Sold Review (0/0 people found this helpful)

I read this in a couple of hours... absolutely brilliant. I a going to read the follow ups and just hope that one day, Zana and her family can find some peace together.

Sold Review (2/4 people found this helpful)

this book was very good at first and the fact that it is based on a true story moved me but towards the end the plot seemed to wind on a bit. Oviously as it is about factual events it had to be like that so im not going to judge the author on that. This book is sad all the way through but particularly vivid on when she firsts arrives in Yemen. If you have the slihtest interest in human rights then read this book but the author does not explain the way a Yemini would see it the event which i felt gave the book a 'missing' element. For a truely interesting book which gives you the point of view of a Muslim I recomend Princess, that book is also an autobiography written in the 1st person. and the author of Princess has lived in S.Arabia so knows about the Islamic way of life.

Zana Muhsen, Andrew Crofts

Reader Reviews:

This book had me sold. (5/5 people found this helpful)

Highly Recommended (8/8 people found this helpful)

Sold-by thier father (15/15 people found this helpful)

Sold Review (0/0 people found this helpful)

Sold Review (2/4 people found this helpful)

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