She never steals. Ever. It is wrong. Jewellery, money and expensive household items are within her reach and she never takes anything. Is this what she was taught at home? No. At school? No, she didn’t go to school. From a religious book? No.

It was Ramadan. She was about 12 and helping to prepare the food for iftar. A plate was going to the table and she couldn’t resist a taste. For that taste, the 12 year old was hit with a kitchen utensil and has a scar on her hand to this day. Was she punished for breaking her fast? No. The hungry 12 year old was punished for stealing a mouthful of food from someone else’s plate.

Indicative of her life: nothing explained, no questions allowed, harsh punishment for a misdemeanour, no independent thought encouraged.

..not only her.