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AFGHANISTAN ARCHIVE: March 13 - April 3, 2006

Child Bride: Children Respond

In the overwhelming reader response, we discovered a number of comments from children close to Gulsoma's age. We are featuring some of them here, as originally posted, with no changes to spelling or grammar.  

By the Hot Zone Team, Wed Mar 22, 7:26 PM ET

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On March 20 the Hot Zone published a story about Gulsoma, an Afghan girl who was forced into marriage at the age of four. Her new family members tortured and beat her close to death, until she escaped at age 11. Gulsoma now lives in an orphanage in Kabul, where she is recovering from her horrific past and displaying strength beyond her years. You can read the story here.


Gulsoma

In the overwhelming reader response, we discovered a number of comments from children close to Gulsoma's age. We are featuring some of them here, as originally posted, with no changes to spelling or grammar.  

"Dear Gulsoma, I am 12, also, and I can't imagine going through that. I am so proud that you kept the faith and kept praying, and that you weren't bitter. You Have such joy! Not happiness, joy. Grace form Michigan"

"I'm 12 as well and it frightens me just to think of such torture, much less experience it. Gulsoma, if you ever read this, please know that this is a wonderful and inspiring story that I will be sure to share."

"Hi Gulsoma, My mom showed me your story and I am very sorry for.(my mom let me write this post) I want you to keep you head up high and find a mother and father that will take very good care of you. I am also 12 years old and cannot believe what they did to you! I cried...my mom cried i bet America would cry. you are very brave and a very strong girl. My mom said she wished she could adopt you. I will pray for you..May God Bless You! Your Friend, Miranda"

"Gulsoma, I am a 13 year old girl my mom showed me your story. I have no idea what to say. All I can say to you is thank you, thank you for opening my eyes. I thought I went through bad things but this is a story that has really helped me to see that I am really lucky. I am happy to say to you that now you are in a better place. Although I'm a year older than you I read your story and was amazed that in your pictures all you could do was smile. That all you wanted to do was smile. It is a very hard thing but you made it through and you are a very beautiful girl I'm am very happy for you to be in the place you are now and to be out of the horrible place you were before. Remeber to keep your head high and don't look back just look towards the future. And always remeber I will pray for you and God is watching over you."

"I'm glad this has not effected the way you feel about people. There are good people in the world and i am one of them i am 12 just like you and i can't even imagine that treatment."

"oh my gosh i am 11 and i could never imagine my family doing something like that to me.Gulsoma you had a lot of courage and a lot of faith keep believing that there is a god and pray for the other children around the world who are suffering like you. MAy you find a new family and a better lifestyle. God Bless You and forever take care of you."
Gulsoma, I am 11 years old. It hurt me to read your story and see what pain and saddness that you endured. I am so sorry for what happened to you!!!!! Madi"

"Deat Gulsoma, i am so sorry abt yr abuse. i am 11 years old. i am so sad reading abt you.i just want u to know that even tho there are bad people around, there also good people too. Get up and enjoy yourself, don't think about the past anymore. ChewLiLi, Malaysia"

"i can't believe that you are my age and have gone through all of that. you are an amazing person that now deserves a good life! i hope you get it. they should never let the people who did this to you out of jail. you are very strong. -Megan from Colorado of the U.S.A."

 

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Comments

Join the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
Gulsoma I cried reading this story and the people that did this to you deserve the same in return. Your story has also taught me that I can’t possibly have anything to complain about with such horrible things having been done to a little girl. I hope and pray that someday you will be able to go through everyday without fear and the horrible memories of what was done to you. I praise you in your desire to want to help other people that are abused and wish you strength in that pursuit. I hope you have a happy and blessed life for the rest of your life. Good luck and God Bless. RMA in Ohio
Posted by rmainohio on Wed, Mar 22, 2006 10:49 PM ET
2
Dear Gulsoma, You are a very brave girl and have a strenght to endure the animalistic attitude of your father. Dont worry we are here bihind you praying tha GOD IS ALWAYS BE WITH YOU to show you the way forever. I love You and pray always to GOD. Marnello: Philippines 23 Mar 06
Posted by riverbanks_dog_blue on Wed, Mar 22, 2006 10:55 PM ET
3
gusama you are very brav and i admire you keep your head high and dont let noone ever bring you down again i am sorry for what happened to you . but it is finally over they will pay for what they did to you because there is a higher justice for them and they will get it back 3 fold in spades they are not going to get away with it you will see. they will pay for what they did to you all of them who took part in that abuse they will pay . you are loved and you are here for a purpose remember that . melindafrom oklahoma usa by nadiaunique02@yahoo.com
Posted by kay_06@sbcglobal.net on Wed, Mar 22, 2006 11:02 PM ET
4
Dear Gulsoma, I am a 12 year old girl and my family is also from the middle east. YOur story made me put my life back in perspective and i realize that there are worse things that can happen to me than what i have gone through. I want to let you know that what you did, escaped, is a very brave thing to do and i dont think that i myself would have enough courage to do so. I know that in places that i know of and even my own country, Yemen, there are many stories like this. I admire you greatly for your courage. You are a very brave, beautiful, and strong person. May god always be with you. If there is anything at all that i can do to help you PLEASE let me know for i would be more than grateful to help. Always, Haleema Alyafaie: Fresno, California
Posted by haleema93 on Wed, Mar 22, 2006 11:10 PM ET
5
dear gulsoma, i am also a 25 year old guy.& i can get very eaisly your horiffic past story.but with it i appriciate your bravery.& thats conditions can happen to anyone.so your vigours thinking & strength will be encoureging to other children.i pray to god for you. god is always be with you.
Posted by vijay_1684 on Thu, Mar 23, 2006 12:44 AM ET
6
I her give moral supports
Posted by aonsoi on Thu, Mar 23, 2006 1:46 AM ET
7
Hello Gulsoma, i was moved by your story.I am happy that you still keep a smiling face despite all you went through.it is better imagined than experienced that a child of your age goes through such treatment.You are a brave girl God shall surelly grant you all your desires to help othre children in the same predicament and he also give you aparents that will truly love you.know God. alwayays remember God for saving you. Ladi from France.n your prayers ask God to forgive all those that maltreated youfor they don't k
Posted by sunday_olufelo on Thu, Mar 23, 2006 4:50 AM ET
8
gulsoma,i am 24 yrs old guy i can't imagine your sufferings and how you survived.imagine you are forced to married at the age of four.i appreciate you for being brave,i know everything happened has a purpose."tradition sometimes choked the individual and you have no freedom to flee from it"
Posted by marawi24 on Thu, Mar 23, 2006 4:51 AM ET
9
That man need to rot in jail...
Posted by terahwarona1981 on Thu, Mar 23, 2006 5:53 AM ET
10
Glusoma, You are a Miracle from Heaven Above! What an amazing capacity you have to LOVE! Bless you, Bless YOU Bless YOU ! May ALL YOUR PRAYERS COME TRUE, YOU ARE A BLESSING tO ALL WHO KNOW OF YOU! :O) MAY THE WOrLD OPEN THEIR EYES, HEAR AND HEED ALL THE CHILDREN'S CRIES! You have already brought on a globl reaction, You are already a young woman of action!! If only I had just a fraction, of your inner stregnth and inspiration!
Posted by pkg4u@sbcglobal.net on Thu, Mar 23, 2006 6:58 AM ET

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in memoriam

The Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone team dedicates this site to Marla Ruzicka, a fearless voice of compassion, who was killed in Iraq on April 16, 2005, while trying to lessen the suffering of others. For more information, see Civic Worldwide.