Young Bride’s Nightmare: Forced Marriage and Survival Journey

Fifteen-year-old Rubie faced a harrowing ordeal when she was forced to marry a man more than twice her age, leading to years of trauma and abuse. Raised in Wales, Rubie was taken to Bangladesh by her family, who sought to arrange her marriage. Under local laws, minors can marry with parental consent, and Rubie’s father was determined to see her wed, despite the implications of such a union.

Rubie’s situation drastically changed when her family traveled to their homeland. During what was presented as a family vacation, her relatives secretly orchestrated her marriage to a man in his thirties. “My mum beckoned me over and pointed to a strange man,” she recalled. “She told me that was the man I was going to marry.” It wasn’t until she saw their marriage certificate months later that she realized the truth about her husband’s age.

In the lead-up to the wedding, Rubie felt mentally and physically disconnected from reality. The forced marriage became a nightmare as her husband began to sexually abuse her days after their wedding. She described the experience as a continuous violation, leading to her becoming pregnant at just 16.

Rubie’s family eventually brought her back to Wales, leaving her husband in India. Confronted with the harsh reality of her circumstances, she felt hopeless and attempted to take her own life through an overdose. The following day, during her first scan, she heard her baby’s heartbeat, which became a turning point for her. “I chose to carry on living for this baby,” she stated.

After giving birth to her daughter in October, plans were made for her husband to travel to the United Kingdom. Rubie attempted to escape with her child, but her family tracked her down and forced her to return home. It was not until 2000, when she encountered a school friend, that she found a way out.

The friend helped Rubie contact the police, who were initially slow to respond due to a lack of understanding about honor-based abuse. Finally, she left with her daughter, armed only with a Tesco bag of clothes.

Despite her hopes for a fairy tale ending, Rubie soon found herself in another abusive relationship. “I was used to being mistreated,” she admitted. The couple had a child in 2002, but it took another five years for her to escape and secure a restraining order against her partner.

In a candid interview, Rubie reflected on her past, stating, “I went right back to what the eight-year-old me had wanted to do and achieve before any of this had happened.” She expressed her desire to see the world, and she has since dedicated herself to creating a joyful life for herself and others.

Now **42 years old**, Rubie has taken on the role of ambassador for the **Sundial Centre**, working tirelessly to raise awareness about forced marriage and honor-based abuse. “I need other survivors to realize that there is hope and help out there, you just have to reach out for it,” she emphasized. Through her advocacy, Rubie aims to inspire others who have faced similar situations, showing them that recovery and a new life are possible.