A victim of revenge porn has spoken up of the death threats she received from family making it impossible for her to return home.

Alisha, not her real name, is living in the UK but fears returning home to Pakistan after her own family threatened to kill her for their honour.

Alisha, aged 29, had an arranged marriage with a distant relative in Pakistan in 2012, although she was only able to move to the UK in 2015.

Her husband and his family who had been living in the UK for several years welcomed Alisha warmly at first. However, she was soon subjected to a routine of humiliating and degrading behaviour.

Alisha’s husband who was previously divorced ordered her to cook and clean throughout the day.

She also intermittently looked after the three children he had from his previous marriage.

Alisha was not permitted to leave the house without her mother-in-law or husband. Any phone calls with her family were strictly monitored and had to be held in the presence of her husband and his mother.

Alisha says she was too afraid to speak up.

She did, however, find an opportunity to confide in her previous boyfriend in Pakistan whom she contacted out of desperation.

Alisha said: “I was desperate. I couldn’t see any other way. I didn’t know what to do.

“I contacted him and told him about my ordeal. I didn’t know he would ring my husband.

“He rang him on his mobile and told him to stop treating me so badly. My husband didn’t believe who he was and asked him to prove it.

“So my ex-boyfriend sent him a couple of pictures of us together.”

This emotional plea from Alisha’s ex-boyfriend was the catalyst for a disastrous series of events. “My husband said I was a bag of dirt and didn’t want me anymore because I had a boyfriend before marriage.

“My mother-in-law went to Pakistan and called a family meeting with all the extended members of the family. She showed everybody those pictures.”

Alisha said this matter was made into an ‘honour’ issue and that her family were shamed into believing that killing their daughter was the right thing to do.

“The whole family thought I would be deported after my spousal visa ran out. That’s when they thought they would be able to kill me.”

Alisha’s former boyfriend was physically assaulted by members of her family and was also arrested on a false charge.

He continued to be victimised and was left with no choice but to leave the city.

It was the police that brought Alisha to Humraaz Women’s Refuge.

She said: “Being in Humraaz was the first time I felt safe since I was in the UK. They gave me so much support. I had completely fallen and they picked me up. I have now learnt English, ICT and maths. I now want to make something of myself. But I hope that my family will begin talking to me.”

Alisha says all her sisters had their phones taken away from them so they could not contact her, although one sister managed to communicate with her.

Her sister said that her mother is not able to face anyone because of the shame she feels after the photos were circulated.

After months, Alisha said that she managed to speak to her mother once on the phone, although her mother did not say any words.

“I spoke to my mum and said sorry. I only heard her tears. She would not speak to me.”

Firoza Mohmed, Service Manager at Humraaz said: “Humraaz support services enable BME victims of Domestic Abuse and Harmful Practices to recover and rebuild their lives. We provide accommodation, practical support, counselling and therapeutic sessions.

“Honour Based Abuse disproportionately affects women and girls. We at Humraaz understand the intersecting needs and have developed our service to provide a holistic recovery programme.”