Shaima is the eight year old daughter of Faraj Hassan Alsaadi. She delivered this address to the Queen Mary Islamic Society Annual Dinner on Friday 5th March 2010.

As a victim of oppression in the UK, I decided to come along with my Dad to this event for one reason – to represent other Muslim children who are still going through the same thing that I went  through myself, or even worse. I want to spread awareness,  so all of us as Muslims can do something to help those people.

My Dad left Pakistan when I was seven days old.    I saw him for the first time when I was six and a half years old. Throughout that time I felt something was missing from my life but my lovely mother did than everything to make me happy. She managed to convince me that my Dad,  who was in prison here in the UK, was actually working for us there  and that he would soon be back.    

Suddenly I heard the best news in my life:  that we were going to travel to England to see the most important person in our life; our life will be much better. But there were many issues. My Dad was under a control order. I realised that the police can come to our house anytime they want; sometimes nearly ten of them came at 6 o'clock in the morning. They always search the house.  They turn everything upside down. A few times they took my things.  I was always scared as was my Mum.

That was not the end. I realised that I was not allowed to use the internet. No play station allowed, no MP3. I couldn't go with my Dad to visit any places  because his boundary was very small.    No friends could come to my house. Once they refused to let my Dad take me to my Islamic school until one Aunty from HHUGS did it for me for 3 months. There were some Muslims who helped us.

I thank HHUGS for everything they did for us, paying for my school, taking me to school, sending me gifts, looking after my family all the way. I hope everyone will support HHUGS.  I have trust in them after Allah that they are very sincere and will help many Muslim children in a similar situation.