'How do I get out of my abusive marriage?'

isaac dachen

October 20, 2016 10:00 AM

What would you advise a woman who has been in an abusive marriage for 15 years to do?

Domestic Violence, Wife Beating, Morning Teaser

My father gave me out to Abba who was in his late 30s and married to two other women when I was just 17 and fresh from secondary school.

Being from the northern part of the country, my parents placed so much emphasis on me and my sisters getting married quite early.

In fact, it was a battle for them to allow me to finish my secondary school and it took a stiff fight and the insistence of my two older brothers before my parents succumbed.

But in all my years of marriage, I have not been at peace either from my husband o0r his other wives.

Abba has turned me into his punching bag and beats me at every opportunity, even in the presence of my children.

Apart from beating me, Abba abuses me emotionally and sexually. Anytime he wants to have sex with me, Abba will beat me up and force himself on me. If I complain, he will beat me the more and threaten to send me out of his house.

He does all of these because he knows I have nowhere to go. The few times I have gone to my parent's house after one of such beatings, my father would practically drive me back to Abba's house, telling me I must stay in my marriage no matter what.

He has even vowed to place a curse on me if I run away from my husband. I know my father takes sides with my husband because of the money and other things Abba gives him.

But I am fed up and tired. I want to stay alive for my children but I fear if I don't walk away, my children could soon become motherless.

Habiba."

Dear readers, on Morning Teaser today, we want you to help Habiba with some useful advice on how she should handle this situation.

isaac dachen