Married By Force - Softcover

A devastating first-hand testimony exposing the cruel and widespread practice of forced marriage: 'I was twenty years old and dreamed of marrying for love.' Leila was born and brought up in France by Moroccan-born parents. But her romantic dreams were shattered when she was forced by her father to marry a man she'd never met, fifteen years older than her, and whose language she couldn't understand. The husband she didn't love beat her regularly in an attempt to force her into submission. But, with extraordinary courage, Leila fought back against the weight of family tradition to regain her liberty and dignity; and though it put her life in danger, she left her husband and later divorced him.

Leila is now 29 years old, and lives with her young son in Paris. She speaks out frequently in the media against the evils of forced marriage; but still prefers not to reveal her surname. The book was first published in France, where it caused a storm of controversy.