sister-hood is an award-winning digital magazine spotlighting the diverse voices of women of Muslim heritage.
sister-hood is a digital magazine and a series of live events. We create platforms for women of Muslim heritage to speak for themselves, rather than being spoken for or spoken about. sister-hood challenges stereotypes and promotes the fearless, progressive, creative voices of women of Muslim heritage.
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Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
Oh Banaz, why such an embarrassment?
Oh Banaz, why claim you suffered from harassment?
Oh Banaz, why not show dedication?
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
Beaten, tortured and bruised until black and blue,
Banaz suffered from reality déjà vu,
Constantly from her own blood relation.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
Not brown, a dark tan,
Moving to England from her country Kurdistan,
Men showed flirtation.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
A community which felt like home,
A community where no one could ever roam,
A community with high migration.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
Her sister was the first suspect to marry,
And the first with a heavy, forced load to carry.
This increased the family’s adulation.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
She came down to constant unfamiliar faces,
Hidden away from western influences,
As if it was like an unwanted addiction.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
Within a blink of an eye Banaz became sixteen,
And thoughts on her turn made family extremely keen,
‘Twas obvious it was her turn at the marriage station.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
In the blink of an eye Banaz was told to marry,
An unknown man and his babies she would carry,
Every girl’s wedding is meant to be a sensation.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
Physically, sexually, verbally abused,
She would always question why, leaving her confused.
This would happened on several occasions.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
After two years of suffering she filed a complaint,
To show everyone that they are not all saints.
But this increased their aggravation.
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
The police ignored and locked away the evidence
How could they solve it without precedence?
Banaz was still suffering from exploitation,
Oh Banaz, why did you ruin our reputation?
Banaz was then raped and killed by a gang of her cousins
Twas ordered by her father and uncle.
So whilst they locked away evidence that was screaming to get out.
Banaz was being chucked into a freezer burried in a back garden.
Oh Banaz, why did they ruin your reputation?
Hamaiza Ul-Hassan
I am 14 years old. I was born in Skipton, I live with my single mum and siblings. I am currently studying at Skipton Girls Grammar School. Growing up, I have often seen hidden ‘honour base abuse’ within the community and listened to my mum sharing her story. I have witnessed disownment and I appreciate the cycle broken for me. I am hoping to achieve my dreams and go to university. I often like to link any projects at school to help ‘abused women and girls’ recently in a business project I came up with an idea to create a chip to support women whom suffer from domestic abuse. I like researching more into this matter and I am very passionate to end such horrendous practices. At age 13, I came across ‘Banaz Mahmood love story’ and decided to write a ballad on this case.