A human trafficking victim has told how she was saved from slavery by community leaders who barged into a brothel pretending to be officials from her embassy. Instead, she became one of hundreds of women that police believe were trafficked and forced to work as prostitutes by a gang led by female kingpin, Sauda Biwi.
She only managed to escape thanks to social workers from the Peoples Cultural Forum in Sharjah, who went to Sauda posing as Indian Embassy officials.
Sheeja told how she had been kept locked up in cramped flats with other women and was beaten by Sauda and a male accomplice for not obeying their orders. They abused me and beat me for not listening to them. I am lucky to have escaped them. They need help to escape from these brothels. Sauda was eventually arrested thanks to a complaint lodged by Sheeja after her escape in , which came in the nick of time as she was due to be sold on to another pimp.
Luckily, he turned out to be a good person and could speak my language. Published June 28th, - GMT Victims of human trafficking will often be duped into believing they are sailing off to a more 'palatable' trade like catering. In the Gulf , where migrant work is commonplace, the sex trade can be lost in the minefield of other slavery-like work traps.
Sheeja Aziz, a year-old Indian divorcee, was lured to Dubai by promises of work as a cook. Sauda was arrested by Indian police last week. Sheeja said several men were sent to her during her ordeal, some of whom raped her.
