Bruised and battered, this Ahmedabad girl lives to narrate her ordeal in Saudi flesh trade

New Delhi: She was no longer ready to compromise with her dignity. And so she gathered courage to stage her brave escape from the clutches of her 'savage' employer, thousands of miles away from her home in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. 

A year ago, 38-year-old Noorjahan Akbar Husen used to work at a beauty parlour in Saudi Arabia. 

She was brutally tortured by her employer as she was forced to work for a 'home service', which was a constant source of humiliation and physical harm.

Home service is a byword for the flesh trade in Dammam in Saudi Arabia where she had endured subjugation for several years.

"Home service means flesh trade. When a girl is sent there, it means that she has to become a sex slave," TOI quoted Noorjahan as saying.

Noorjahan had to cut her own wrist to plan for her escape from the clutches of her employer.

Noorjahan, who came back home last October, is one many victims trafficked to Saudi Arabia for the flourishing flesh trade. Two other girls from Hyderabad, who were rescued along with Noorjahan, refused to divulge their pain. 

"I used to see a lot of Hyderabadi girls being brought there. They are shocked when they are forced to go for 'home service'. Inevitably they tortured until they give in," she said, quoting TOI.

According to Noorjahan, rampant torture and enforcement triggered several commitments of suicides by jumping from first and second floor of the building. 

"I was beaten up. My employer would pull my hair and bang my head to the wall. I resisted going for 'home service', but not all do. I have noticed that many Hyderabadi girls get trapped in Saudi," Noorjahan told TOI over phone from Ahmedabad.

She and her husband were hoaxed by an agent in Mumbai who assured to provide employment in Riyadh, however, all the promises were in vain. She was isolated from her husband right after landing at the airport.

"When I resisted to going for 'home service', she (employer) took us to the police station and got cases booked against us saying that we are trying to show Saudi Arabia in bad light," the 38-year-old said, quoting TOI.

After being rescued from a heinous trap, Noorjahan does want other girls to fall prey of trafficking.