| Description | An interview with Hussein, a Separated man with one daughter, who is a prisoner, born in Birmingham and now living in . Hussein’s father was a Shop owner, born in Kashmir(Pakistan) and his mother a Housewife born in Kashmir(Pakistan). In the interview, he talks about …
'HUSSEIN MS2255/2/129 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
My name is Hussein. My date of birth is 31st July, 1976. I was born in Birmingham and I’ve lived in Birmingham al my life.
28” Outlines his teenage years from the perspective of misuse of drugs. Story about a friend who died from drugs.
3.40 My family is originally from Kashmir…from the Pakistani side….Father studied as an electrician. Wanted his children to set up in business but Hussein wasn’t interested.
02
By the age of 18 made money from selling drugs. Used the money to buy cars and sell them for profit.
50” Details his arranged marriage at the age of 19 to his cousin.
3.00 Had a daughter two years later, but marriage was experiencing difficulties.
4.19 Close relationship with brothers as a child.
03
Explains his family’s background and their Islamic faith.
3.02 Unfortunately I took the wrong paths….I didn’t listen to nobody….That time I was young, confused, just seeing everybody making money….hanging about in the local parks, having drugs, drinks….
3.36 Describes the community he lived in as a child.
4.23 Attended Oldknow Primary School in Small Heath. Problems with Holy Trinity School in the same area.
04
In Small Heath there are so much drugs on the street now for youngsters…At the age of 12 people are taking bad things…we never used to have that sort of thing, just fights….By the time we were teenagers we used to rob cars….
40” I blame school because the teachers always expelled me for some reason…. Moved to another school.
1.16 Reasons for finding school difficult.
1.45 Experience of corporal punishment affected him at school.
05
Attended Islamic School from the age of 6. Islamic schools are quite different…people used to try and avoid going there…The teachers used to whack you with sticks on your hands if you didn’t get it right….
1.16 Also attended local mosques in Small Heath.
2.10 Attended Islamic School every evening, unless able to avoid going. By the age of 12 I was sick of it, the way they used to treat you…
3.19 I think it is a lot when you’re a kid because you have to learn English as well as your own language, especially where Asian people are born in England…all their family are speaking their own language….
4.08 Parent’s language. It’s not even Punjabi really, it’s….Mirpuri….
06
Relationship with father deteriorated when Hussein was a teenager.
26” Uncle tried to encourage him to work hard. Discusses his siblings.
1.48 Coming from an Asian background, women tend to have a lot less opportunities than men….but now I see that a lot of women have done well in life…As long as they work and study, and stick to their own religion….
2.45 Differences in the way his brothers and sisters were treated. One sister is now studying law.
4.23 Arranged marriages in the family. A lot of Asian people try to keep marriages in their own families….they have known each other since they were two or three….that’s the worst thing….
07
Reflects on marrying outside of a family arrangement.
1.23 I know a lot of arranged marriages work out, especially my younger brother….Story about dilemma faced by his brother.
3.10 Returned to Kashmir in 1989 for 6 months. Describes the village.
08
09
Comments further on his time spent in Kashmir and the quality of life compared to the UK.
2.19 Parents’ experience of moving to the UK and the political background to the territorial disputes in the region.
10
Expelled from school at 16.
I was with the wrong crowd…I used to do things to make a bit of money…car robberies….We started smoking a joint here and there, and it got heavier…
55” Attended Josiah Mason college for a year. Spent most time in canteen.
1.32 Reasons for wanting to attend college. Switched to Matthew Boulton College the following year.
2.15 Enrolled on a 2-year electronics course.
3.01 Every day when you came out the college there would be a fight or something….When I used to go to the cafeteria these guys would come up to me and chat to me….I got mixed up with them and they were smoking drugs as well….I was trying to hang about with people who were doing the course….I started going clubbing…and getting into fights….clubs where there was Asian music and hip hop….and they would just get into fights for nothing….
11
I passed one year at college…. but the second year I gave it up for a stupid reason, I just wanted to hang about with these guys…and make money…
30” Started working for father in his take-away. Sent to learn how to make pizzas in Coventry. Describes the work at the take-away.
2.30 Father decided to return to Kashmir for a holiday.
2.59 Bought a flat in Edgbaston with some friends. Sold drugs. Became involved with the police and family were concerned about him.
4.10 Married but estranged from wife during this period.
12
Business in decline. Father bought a grocery shop.
1.58 Encounters with local youths became more violent. Story about one such encounter.
3.42 Cousin sold heavy drugs. Account of court case.
13
We used to get a lot of abuse from the police because in Small Heath….they were really onto us….Even Asian police officers who just want to be ‘wannabes’….When my little brother got hit by a police officer, that’s when things changed for me….I even used to burn their cars sometimes…
1.55 Arrested for car theft.
2.30 Switched to selling drugs. Hadn’t realised how many people were taking hard drugs.
4.28 Younger brother addicted to drugs.
14
Found it difficult to leave the network of drug dealers behind.
36” Story about being kidnapped.
4.40 Increasing availability of guns amongst young men in Birmingham.
15
Continued.
37” Story about elderly drug dealer.
1.55 Now serving time for kidnapping and assault. Background to the convinction.
16
Continued.
17
Sentenced for 4 years.
1.36 Feelings about serving time and shame it brought to the family.
18
How people on drug convictions are frequently re-admitted to the prison.
55” Works for Samaritans at the prison.
1.30 Describes an average day at the prison.
19
36” I’ve seen people in prison who are suicidal….cut themselves up….You’ve got people who sell drugs in prisons…some people owe debts…or can’t handle prison…
2.00 Wants to spend more time with his child.
2.35 Influenced by an elderly woman who works for the Samaritans.
20
Started to read the Qu'ran again.
55” Worries that his criminal record may impede his chances of starting afresh.
2.08 Feels that he wouldn’t be tempted by the circles he previously moved in.
3.10 Interested in teaching basic skills to adults when he leaves prison.
ENDS. |