So begins Firdaus’ story, leading to her grimy Cairo prison cell, where she welcomes her death sentence as a relief from her pain and suffering. Born to a peasant family in the Egyptian countryside, Firdaus suffered a childhood of cruelty and neglect. Her passion for education was ignored by her family, and on leaving school she was forced to marry a much older man.
Following her escapes from violent relationships, she finally met Sharifa, who told her that ‘a man does not know a woman’s value; the higher you price yourself, the more he will realise what you are really worth’ and led her into a life of prostitution. Desperate and alone, she took drastic action.
African Series 