A WOMAN who says she suffered beatings and sexual abuse as a child has written a book to help other women overcome violence.

Miriam Farid’s father was Pakistani while her mother was English.

She said pressure from her father’s side of the family saw her end up in Pakistan with foster families at the age of three.

“My mother was having problems of her own at the time and was persuaded to give me up,” she said.

“I was taken to Pakistan by my father to live with relatives. I didn’t know any of them and was passed from family to family. They called me ‘baby’ or ‘madam’. I was often beaten because no-one really wanted me.”

Ms Farid of Wrose, Shipley, who is now in her 40s, added: “When I was nine my uncle who I was living with at the time became very ill and he brought me back to Bradford for my real father and his wife, my stepmother, to look after me. My uncle died soon after.

“I was left with a father I did not really know and a new step family.

“Even at such a young age I had to do the housework and wash nappies and things and I would not get food until it was done. I was covered in bruises from beatings. I was also sexually assaulted by a babysitter.

“Eventually I told a teacher at school but the school was told I was lying.

“When I was 15 I was ordered to marry a 30-year-old man. I didn’t want to but had no choice.

“I had four boys with him but we divorced 25 years ago.”

Ms Farid, whose father has since died, said: “I have a Facebook page and have hundreds of messages from people telling me their stories.

“I have written a book, Torn By Two Cultures, to share my experiences and offer hope to those going through the same things.

“It is currently being edited and I will then self-publish it. I hope to hold a launch in Bradford in the New Year.”

Ms Farid is also looking at taking part in this year’s Safeguarding Week, October 17 to 21, and her second son, Kashif Mahmood has applied to use the University of Bradford as a potential venue as he is studying there for a degree in social work.

“I am not targeting any culture here as people suffer in all of them,” Ms Farid stressed.

“I just want to encourage people to seek help and learn from my experiences. Confide in someone such as a teacher or doctor or go to the police. You are not to blame when it comes to violence against you. My Facebook inbox is full of people asking for advice.”