Homosexuality is a taboo topic in Pakistan, much more so in the world Muslim world – compelling many to remain closeted
Zayna* is one such example. Despite being beaten, humiliated and threatened for her sexuality throughout her formative years, she refused deny her inclination.
“On my 13th birthday I realised I was like this,” she told The Manchester Evening News. “Pakistani society is very conservative.”
While the country’s law outlines criminal penalties for homosexual couples, a US human rights study published in 2016 said rarely were people prosecuted based on it. ‘The penalty for same-sex relations is a fine, two years’ to life imprisonment, or both,” the US State Department document reads.
“I have seen so many LGBT people from Pakistan struggle and a lot of them don’t have the courage to come in front of the media. I want to be an activist. I have already published my story in Urdu on some Pakistani websites and I got a very bad response.”
Growing up in Karachi as the only child of a conservative family, Zayna recalls being beaten by her father when he was suspicious of her having relations with a boy when in fact she was spending time with another girl. “My father came upstairs and wanted to kill me and beat me like anything,” she said. “He told me how to behave. That was the first time I felt unsafe in my own home.”
“I am a strong brave person but so many people like me don’t have that courage. I realised I need to come out and tell everyone about my story,” added the girl who described herself as tomboy while growing up.
Her father died when she was in her early 20s and mother developed lung cancer. At this time, Zayna was working at an Islamic University and was in a relationship with another teacher. At the time Zayna was also a PhD chemistry student.
When they were discovered, the two women were told to leave or else they would be reported to the police as prostitutes.
Zayna, who had not officially come out but suspected “everybody knew and hated her for it” then moved to the United Kingdom.
