| Description | An interview with Iffat MIR, a divorced woman with two sons, who is a Not given, born in Tanzania and now living in Birmingham. Iffat MIR’s father was a Post office worker, born in India and her mother a Housewife born in India. In the interview, she talks about …
'IFFAT MIR MS2255/5/073 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
My name is Iffat Mir. I was born in Africa, Tanzania. My parents were born in India…they moved in 1947 to Pakistan. I was born in 1958.
41” Father worked in Africa for British Government. Mother was a housewife.
Background to the move to Africa.
1.44 Returned to Pakistan at the age of 3. Then moved back to Africa 2 years later. 5 brothers and sisters. Disrupted by constant moves.
2.55 Spoke English at school.
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Family moved back to Pakistan in 1969. Story about decision to move to England.
1.55 Father’s car accident in England was deciding factor in mother and children following him here permanently in 1976. Iffat was nearly 18 years old.
2.30 Iffat attended a college for women in Pakistan for 2 years.
3.00 Details primary and secondary schooling in Pakistan.
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Studied for 3 A’levels at Sutton Coldfield College in 1978.
44” After leaving college, applied to work at the Blood Transfusion Centre of QE. Hospital in Edgbaston. Wanted to work in the medical field.
2.00 Worked as a Junior Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer for 2 years.
2.40 Accompanied mother to Pakistan. Married in Pakistan in December,1980.
3.56 Husband applied to Brighton Polytechnic to do foundation course. In 1981 returned to England.
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Remembers looking for a new house and place to study when she first arrived in Birmingham.
1.13 The one thing that was a problem was the way people spoke English….we could not understand…some people would think, oh she doesn’t know any English…Our accent was very strong….
3.01 When I went to college I don’t remember any negative attitude from anyone…in my class there were about 7 Iranians….Describes experience at college.
4.33 When we moved to Sheldon we were in an area where mostly white people lived….I just didn’t like any houses here…the rooms seemed so small….Contrasts with Pakistan.
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43” When I look back, the house that we bought in Small Heath was really large…We moved in 1976…there were so many Asian people living there…We never seemed to have problems….Describes the environment and the neighbours.
2.10 I was just so surprised to see so many Asian people who used to come out shopping on the Coventry Road…I didn’t expect that many to be in one area in England, I soon found out there were areas where there were more Asian people living…Alum Rock…
3.44 Husband’s experience of moving to England contrasted with her own.
06
Husband moved to Brighton to join his course. Iffat followed shortly after.
1.05 He said to me, “maybe we should practice more in English together because my English is not so good.” …He could not adapt to the mannerisms…he would speak quite loud….He wanted me to be around him because he felt insecure…he had the impression that I was very westernised…Since we came to this country we have worn western clothes when we go out but when we are at home it’s quite flexible….
2.58 I’ve never felt very westernised. Yes, we’ve adapted with the culture here…I’m quite eastern in my way of thinking….Elaborates.
4.17 In England people are very organised with their work….quite organised with their timings…In Pakistan when people say 2 o’clock it means 3 or half past 3….People are more honest….
07
In Pakistan people are always afraid of being penalised….Contrasts further between England and Pakistan.
3.08 Entitled to unemployment benefit when she returned from Pakistan and hoped to find work in Brighton. Husband wouldn’t allow it.
4.32 When I was doing my job in the blood transfusion service, I used to spend my money like anything….after getting off the train at New Street when I walked by the shops I used to choose…shoes and tops….Suddenly when I got married we became penniless….
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As newly-weds they didn’t have much money.
1.41 First year of marriage was not happy.
2.17 Story about increasing domestic violence towards her and the decision to run away.
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Continues story. Iffat returned to Birmingham to stay with her family.
Husband begged her to come back to Brighton.
1.50 Moved back with her husband to give the marriage another go. Had 2 children in 1983 and 1985.
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Moved from Luton to London in 1982. Describes accommodation and life in East London. Experienced racism from neighbours.
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After second child was 3, began doing unpaid child-minding.
2.38 Violence resumed at home.
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56” In August 1988 he became quite violent again….in the morning I decided when he goes to work I am going to pack up my things and leave…I went to the housing dept. and said I want a separate place…they offered me sheltered accommodation….I had very little money…. (Continues story)
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Family gave their support and Iffat moved back to Birmingham.
Story about communicating with husband again during a visit to Pakistan.
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Continues story.
1.42 After further violence she decided never to go back.
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Father-in-law became very sick and Iffat agreed to the children going to Pakistan to visit him.
2.14 Remained in Pakistan until after 40 days of mourning.
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2.08 Background to husband abducting children.
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Continues…...
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Returned to England to begin custody proceedings.
1.09 Court decided interim custody should be given to Iffat.
2.07 Succeeded in obtaining accommodation from Housing Association.
3.01 Husband arrived in Birmingham and was arrested.
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Husband ordered to return son to Iffat. Returned secretly to Pakistan.
3.28 Went to Pakistan in May, 1991 to continue court proceedings.
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Details legal system in Pakistan and how it worked against her.
3.02 A new lawyer gave hope to Iffat.
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Decision made that child should be returned to Iffat, but husband wouldn’t accept it.
Older child at home in Birmingham started suffering at school and having difficulties.
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Contacted various organisations including a human rights worker.
Resorted to abducting her child back from husband.
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Opinion of Birmingham as a city.
45” Schools need to learn so much more about the children’s psychology because if my child had more understanding teachers when he had gone through all of the trauma….they used to give him detentions every day…
ENDS. |