‘I was lucky to escape – many women don’t’
Farhana Raval was forced into an arranged marriage at 16.
It was about a week into my trip when I began to suspect I’d been duped. Back in the summer of 1999, I’d just finished my GCSEs and I was excited about my future. But, not long after my last exam, my worried-looking mum told me that my grandmother in Bangladesh was unwell. I flew over with my mum and younger sister. We were met with jubilation from Mum’s extended family. Indeed, our welcome party was so joyous, I didn’t look closely at my grandmother. If
