Samra Zafar was just 16 when her parents forced her to marry a man who lived far from her home in Abu Dhabi. Today, she is Dr. Samra Zafar—a physician and inspirational human rights activist. But the journey from child bride to an advocate for women’s rights was anything but easy. Her story is a testament to the power of community in transforming the lives of young girls.
“It’s your destiny”
Zafar, a Pakistani, was married off to an acquaintance of her parents residing in Mississauga, Ontario. They told her, “It’s your destiny.” The man, 11 years her senior, promised she would be able to pursue higher education—but it was an empty promise.
Zafar husband was also abusive. She was not allowed to work and so had no money of her own. When she was 21 and her first child was two years old, he only allowed her to leave the house once a week for a few hours to take their daughter to an early years center. In an interview with Yahoo News, she recalls how liberated she felt, if only for a short time each week:
“It was my few hours of escape” … “Sometimes I would hide under the Credit River Bridge and pull off my hijab so that I could feel the breeze in my hair for a few minutes.”
It was during one of those outings that Zafar’s life began to change. After misplacing a coin, a stranger offered to pay for a Time Horton’s donut her daughter had already started eating. Although she was never given money of her own, she had been saving the occasional loonie or toonie she found around the house. Inspired by that stranger’s kindness, she enrolled in her first high school course at an independent learning center that very day.
That one act of kindness was the beginning of many more. A woman from the center recognized the abuse and helped Zafar get legal aid. When she applied to university at 26 years old, the registrar helped her bypass the waitlist, and a professor wrote her a powerful letter of recommendation that helped her secure a scholarship. She also began taking on baby sitting jobs to pay for her education. It was around this time that she finally found the strength and support to leave her husband. Her university roommates helped care for her children while she sought legal help.
Child marriage is still legal in Canada
Zafar describes her journey as a “miracle” and is eternally grateful to the people of Canada for the kindness they continue to show her. Today, she holds three degrees, has a strong support system, and a chosen family. As a mental health physician and advocate, women’s rights activist, public speaker, and author, she is committed to helping others in Canada access the support they need.
But there is one flaw she wants her adopted country to address. She says:
“In Canada, you can marry at age 16 with parental consent. But in many cases, parental consent is actually parental coercion. And even in this day and age, it continues to happen.”
Freedom United echoes the sentiments of Samra Zafar and and urges Canada to embrace progress by outlawing child marriage without exception. In May, Pakistan banned child marriage with no exceptions. It’s time for Canada to follow suit. Join us in demanding that governments across the globe outlaw child marriage.
Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.
If Pakistan can outlaw child marriage, Canada can as well. it is time—past time, actually.
Hi Neil, thankfully the loophole of parental consent to the ban on child marriage was closed in Britain following our campaign with the support of over 254,000 petition signatures, resulting in the passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill in 2022. This new law helps ensure that no child is coerced into marriage. Read more here: https://www.freedomunited.org/news/uk-bans-child-marriage/
I have to apologize for the message I sent you earlier. I finally discovered your petition attached to my email.
I was shocked to see that Canadian legislature still allows children to get married, and even more shocked to see a loophole that allows parents to marry off their under-aged daughters in arranged marriages.
I would like to see you send a second petition on child marriages to the Canadian government asking for amendments to our marriage laws so that this never happens again
I know little about this but there is one thing that should bind us all. Put yourself in that situation and find some empathy.
That is so warped! There’s a huge difference between two teenagers experimenting with sex, and teenagers being forced to marry against their wishes. Please send me a petition to sign. This needs to be changed.