‘Shackled Sisters’ explores the lives of British Asian women and the cultural struggles they face today. The engaging narrative discusses the issues of forced marriage, sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Author Aishaa Elahi introduces British born Nafisa who was forced to abandon the love of her life and marry her first cousin instead.

Yasmin reveals the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her uncle and the devastating effects of her trauma. It covers the story of Parveen, brought to the UK by her husband to then be dumped for an American bride and passport.

Shackled Sisters is a candid portrayal of how archaic elements of Asian culture still play an overbearing part in the lives of British Asian women today.

"Born into two very different cultures, these stories display the struggles faced by these women as they try to navigate their way through life, juggling these very cultures in a rapidly changing world.

From djinns to controlling husbands to upholding family honour, Aishaa Elahi vividly and empathetically illustrates how pungent cultural values still flourish at the expense of women.

Farzana recounts what life was like for her mum who was trapped in a loveless marriage and caged by her controlling husband. She talks about growing up under a strict father and the impact it had on all the children.

Author Aishaa said, “I think it is really important that the Asian community pick up on these issues and discuss them instead of hiding them away, something which I think we are all guilty of.

“This book illustrates how cultural values can allow human rights violations to prosper, how religion, cultures, customs and traditions are keeping women shackled and how reputation and honour is worth more than happiness, freedom and love".

Aishaa admits listening to the story of each woman was a heart-breaking and emotion fuelled journey “There were a couple of the stories that took me twice as long to complete purely because I could not contain my own tears. “I found myself on a train to Sheffield for a business meeting one early morning and thought it a good idea to do a bit of editing. Bad idea! Cue a hysterical woman, sat at the back of carriage B, sobbing uncontrollably and desperately looking for tissue to wipe her nose with.

“The incentive behind this book was my own personal disdain at how little people really knew about the complex issues faced by British Asian women.

“I have a personal counsellor. I have had one since I was a teenager and after I was forced into a marriage myself. I would recommend counselling for anyone.

She said hundreds of thousands of women in similar positions to her just don’t have that luxury. "Where they find the courage to want to go and talk to someone, the practitioners who understand the area are just not there.

"There are some great charities out there that offer a sympathetic ear to girls who break free from lets say, a forced marriage, but so many end up returning to an oppressive existence because the right sort of therapy is not available to them.

"It’s not as easy as a counsellor saying ‘Your parents were awful to do that to you, you would be mad to return- don’t go back.’ There needs to be more.

"Often the female needs a lot of work on her own self esteem, her own self worth to understand and more importantly, accept that what happened to her was wrong.

"More often though, we have females who come forward because they feel whatever happened to them was indeed wrong but they still can’t shake the feelings of guilt that tell them they did wrong by disrespecting their parents, elders or the community.

"These feelings are embedded from years and years of being told and shown their worth, it will take years to undo all of that.

“The most important message of ‘Shackled Sisters’ is that females who suffer abuse should come forward and not be bound by guilt that is so forcefully imposed by the elders and the community.”

You can find out more about the author and the book at www.aishaelahi.com or @elahiaisha