My name is Misbah not Molly

**Rabi'ya** · 09-01-2006

A 12-year-old girl, who has been missing from her home in the Western Isles for a week, has said she was not forced to leave.
Molly Campbell told a media conference in Lahore, Pakistan, that she left Scotland of her own free will.

Northern Constabulary has submitted a report to the procurator fiscal following its inquiries into the case.

Molly, who asked to be called by her Islamic name Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana, said she wanted to stay in Pakistan.

Her mother and legal guardian, Louise Campbell, had made an emotional appeal for the return of her daughter.

Ms Campbell said in a statement issued by a spokesperson that she was not going to say anything except that she was acting in the best interests of the child, and pursuing the proper line to get Molly back.

The youngster said she wanted to stay with her father.

She told the gathered media on Friday that she bought her own ticket to Pakistan.

She denied that she had been forced to leave home because her family in Lahore had made plans for her to undergo an arranged marriage.

The schoolgirl said: "It was my own choice, my sister came to see me and I asked her, can I go with her, because I was not allowed to see my family. I just went with my sister."

Asked if she would like to stay in Pakistan or return to the UK, she said: "I would like to stay here in Pakistan forever. And my name isn't Molly, it is Misbah." Molly added: "I knew my mum would miss me, but I missed my family and it was hard. If I live with my dad I can still see my mum."

The girl's family in Pakistan have said they will provide her with a phone and computer so that she can maintain contact with her mother.

They also said that Ms Campbell, who moved to Lewis from Stranraer nine months ago, would be able to see her daughter.

However, because Ms Campbell is Molly's legal guardian she is within her rights, under the child abduction protocol, to ask a Pakistani judge to order that Molly be returned to Scotland.

Molly flew to Lahore last week with her father and older sister, but without her mother's consent.

Glasgow MP Mohammed Sarwar went to Pakistan on Thursday to help mediate on the matter.

Mr Sarwar told the media conference in Lahore that it was vital the families could now "build up trust".

Osama Saeed, Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain, said: "We're glad that Misbah has had her side of the story aired now.

"From the beginning the friends and relatives of the people at the centre of this have been saying that there is more to this than was being reported.

"Even looking at Louise's own statement from Tuesday is was clear that this was not a straightforward case of kidnap as was being portrayed."

42039004 mollybodytwo203getty 3 - My name is Misbah not Molly

42038968 newmollybody203getty 3 - My name is Misbah not Molly

**Mohsin** · 09-01-2006

Jazakallah khair for that! I been meaning to read up on what happened later on. I knew it was more to it than was being reported. I got so annoyed when on itv news they followed the news report on this story with a follow up on the large number of arranged marriages occurring in pakistan. I thought they are jumping the gun here a bit aren't they!

**glo** · 09-01-2006

It's good to hear that she went willingly, and that she can return to Britain any time she chooses.

It sounded quite worrying at first.

Still, I can't help feeling sorry for the mother - she must have gone through quite an ordeal!

Does anybody fully understand the family circumstances? Who does she mean when she says she misses her family in Pakistan? Did she move with her mother to Scotland from Pakistan nine months ago? I don't fully understand the story behind this

**Mohsin** · 09-01-2006

Originally Posted by glo

It's good to hear that she went willingly, and that she can return to Britain any time she chooses.

It sounded quite worrying at first.

Still, I can't help feeling sorry for the mother - she must have gone through quite an ordeal!

Does anybody fully understand the family circumstances? Who does she mean when she says she misses her family in Pakistan? Did she move with her mother to Scotland from Pakistan nine months ago? I don't fully understand the story behind this

I think because her mum and dad got separated, she also got separated from her brothers and sisters, as she was the only one living with her mum. So she ended up missing them. i got a feeling she didn't get on well with her mum either

**Dahir** · 09-01-2006

How on this wierd planet does a child travel thousands of miles and still reach their destination with 100% accuracy??

If I drive 3 miles out of town, I start to panic and my heart begins to beat really slowly until a cop can help re-direct me back into town.

**Mohsin** · 09-01-2006

Originally Posted by Dahir

How on this wierd planet does a child travel thousands of miles and still reach their destination with 100% accuracy??

If I drive 3 miles out of town, I start to panic and my heart begins to beat really slowly until a cop can help re-direct me back into town.

lol i think she went with family

**Jayda** · 09-01-2006

aww now she gets to be with her family! thats a happy ending

**Durrah** · 09-01-2006

Originally Posted by glo

Does anybody fully understand the family circumstances? Who does she mean when she says she misses her family in Pakistan? Did she move with her mother to Scotland from Pakistan nine months ago? I don't fully understand the story behind this

Louise Campell (The girl's mum) left the family after she had an affair- with the man who is her partner now. She walked out and the father raised the kids by himself for some years in pakistan, after leaving scotland. Her older siblings are 16+ so they had the choice of where they wanted to say, but Misbah was made to live with her mother and went back to scotland about a year ago, after her mum was give custody rights. According to Misbah's brother Omar, their mother made it diffculit for Misbah to see their father and the rest of the family and tried to cut contact by moving homes (to another area) and not passing on their details. Misbah then left when her father and sister came to visit last week.

You can see why she would miss her family, her dad in partcular. He spent many years raising her after their mum left, so for the mother to try and force Misbah's dad from the girl's life, is no doubt horriable. She had no right to do that and should have made it more possiable for her to keep regular contact and visits to her family in pakistan.

Of course though, the only reason why the media gave a look in about this story because it was a white british woman, who's ex husband was a pakistani muslim. Had Misbah's dad been white, scottish, non muslim and Misbah willingly left with her dad (under simalar situation), then this would never have reached the press and at such an international level.

Either way, her mother manulpated the press and bad mouthed her ex by making up lies (saying that she was kidanapped and being forced into a marriage). This will have an effect on her daughter and other children and despite Misbah saying that she loves her mum and stuff, I dont think she'll forget what her mother has done in a hurry. The woman doesnt give care about her other children and her son has stated he has made efforts to maintain ties, but the mum doesnt want to know!

Anyways I dont know why the press keep calling her Molly Campell, her birth name is Misbah Rana! Thats the name she was given when she was born and thats whats on her birth certifcate, passport etc.. The press keep saying thats the muslim name she 'chose', but its rubbish- Misbah is her real first name. Molly is just what her mum called her on the side. Im glad Misbah corrected publicly in the press confrence today that. It was bugging me. Anyways its clear that Misbah wants to say with her father and is happy with him. And thats what matters the most. If her mum really bothered about her kids, she wouldnt have left them for another man and left them behind with her ex. She can't come crawling back and deciding that her daughter shouldnt maintain close links with her dad!

**Muslim-Gyal** · 09-01-2006

My uncle knows Misbah's father and he would never force anything upon anyone!

**glo** · 09-01-2006

Originally Posted by Durrah

Louise Campell (The girl's mum) left the family after she had an affair- with the man who is her partner now. She walked out and the father raised the kids by himself for some years in pakistan, after leaving scotland. Her older siblings are 16+ so they had the choice of where they wanted to say, but Misbah was made to live with her mother and went back to scotland about a year ago, after her mum was give custody rights. According to Misbah's brother Omar, their mother made it diffculit for Misbah to see their father and the rest of the family and tried to cut contact by moving homes (to another area) and not passing on their details. Misbah then left when her father and sister came to visit last week.

You can see why she would miss her family, her dad in partcular. He spent many years raising her after their mum left, so for the mother to try and force Misbah's dad from the girl's life, is no doubt horriable. She had no right to do that and should have made it more possiable for her to keep regular contact and visits to her family in pakistan.

Of course though, the only reason why the media gave a look in about this story because it was a white british woman, who's ex husband was a pakistani muslim. Had Misbah's dad been white, scottish, non muslim and Misbah willingly left with her dad (under simalar situation), then this would never have reached the press and at such an international level.

Either way, her mother manulpated the press and bad mouthed her ex by making up lies (saying that she was kidanapped and being forced into a marriage). This will have an effect on her daughter and other children and despite Misbah saying that she loves her mum and stuff, I dont think she'll forget what her mother has done in a hurry. The woman doesnt give care about her other children and her son has stated he has made efforts to maintain ties, but the mum doesnt want to know!

Anyways I dont know why the press keep calling her Molly Campell, her birth name is Misbah Rana! Thats the name she was given when she was born and thats whats on her birth certifcate, passport etc.. The press keep saying thats the muslim name she 'chose', but its rubbish- Misbah is her real first name. Molly is just what her mum called her on the side. Im glad Misbah corrected publicly in the press confrence today that. It was bugging me. Anyways its clear that Misbah wants to say with her father and is happy with him. And thats what matters the most. If her mum really bothered about her kids, she wouldnt have left them for another man and left them behind with her ex. She can't come crawling back and deciding that her daughter shouldnt maintain close links with her dad!

Thanks for that, Durrah!

That puts things in a very different light, doesn't it?

**Muezzin** · 09-01-2006

I hope the media will just give up reporting on this custody battle by tomorrow. It's unfair on the family to drag out all their dirty washing for all the world to see, and it hurts them all needlessly.

I do wonder if there would be as much continued media interest had the girl gone to say, Sweden.

**Durrah** · 09-01-2006

Originally Posted by glo

Thanks for that, Durrah!

That puts things in a very different light, doesn't it?

Yes, it does put things in a different perspective when all the details are laid out on the table. And for anyone who's interested in where i got my information from, its from the wire service: the press assocation, reuters, sky news and various live interviews that were shown today.

Anyways Glo, its really her mother and sections of the press who ran away with this story and vilified Misbah's father. I hope Misbah's dad gets custody. While in general its best for kids to be with their mother, its not fair for the father who raised his children, after the mother walks out, to then have his daughter taken away and brainwashed against him (as said by Misbah to her brother Omar). This will be old news in a few days, now that everything has come out in the open.

**Durrah** · 09-01-2006

Originally Posted by Muezzin

I do wonder if there would be as much continued media interest had the girl gone to say, Sweden.

Regardless of where they went, the media would have said something, because her father is a brown paskistani muslim man = evil, oppressive, possiably muderous.

But yes, i understand what you mean. There seemed to be much said about pakistan and how she would somehow be treated like rubbish. Obviously those people have no idea how middle and upper class pakistanis live, in pakistan. Whilst there might be issues in the rural, more tribal areas of the country, the wealthy pakistanis (including expatariates) live simalarly as we do here. if anything, they're quality of life is better and their schools, education, houses, health services are a million times better then the u.k.

**Zulkiflim** · 09-02-2006

Salaam,

the justice is for them not for us.

their justice...their safety ..their peace.

**Ghazi** · 09-02-2006

Allahu Akbar Lets just hope the courts respect "Misbah's" decision and not force her into anything she doesn't want.

**M.4.EVA** · 09-02-2006

Originally Posted by Muezzin

I hope the media will just give up reporting on this custody battle by tomorrow. It's unfair on the family to drag out all their dirty washing for all the world to see, and it hurts them all needlessly.

I do wonder if there would be as much continued media interest had the girl gone to say, Sweden.

I dont think that the media should get blamed for all of this because it was the mothers decison to go to the press and do a press release. And I dont blame her for making this public because she's a mother at the end of the day and she wants her daughter back.

Mashallah that Misbah has chosen the decision to live in pakistan and become a Muslim but if her mother did choose to continue with this custody battle and fight for her daughter to come home then I also respect her for that decision because I dont think that you can truly comprehend how bad it must be for her unless you have been in the same situation as her.

And the media dont care what country someone is taken to as long as they get a good story out of it. So if the girl had gone to sweden then I reckon it would be just as much talked about.

**Dawud_uk** · 09-03-2006

assalaamu alaykum,

i was suspicious of this from the start, a women going to live in the probably the least muslim area of the country with a daughter who wants to be known by her muslim name but a mother who calls her molly.

as it turned out was right, but situation gets worse and worse for the case of the mother, how can the judge have decided against the father under such circumstances?

sounds too much like just about every case of a muslim i know marrying a non-muslim, they eventually break up and the judges and social workers decide it is in the best interests of the kids to stop with the non-muslim parent as more the norm of society, no matter what level of practice of islam they lived by prior to the break up.

assalaamu alaykum,
Daw'ud

**glo** · 09-03-2006

Originally Posted by Dawud_uk

assalaamu alaykum,

i was suspicious of this from the start, a women going to live in the probably the least muslim area of the country with a daughter who wants to be known by her muslim name but a mother who calls her molly.

as it turned out was right, but situation gets worse and worse for the case of the mother, how can the judge have decided against the father under such circumstances?

sounds too much like just about every case of a muslim i know marrying a non-muslim, they eventually break up and the judges and social workers decide it is in the best interests of the kids to stop with the non-muslim parent as more the norm of society, no matter what level of practice of islam they lived by prior to the break up.

assalaamu alaykum,
Daw'ud

In fairness, is it not rather the case that mothers are generally more likely to receive the guardianship over their children of minor age?
I am no sure to what extend cultural or religious background would influence the judge's decision ... but then, I may just be naive ...

peace

**Starseeker** · 09-03-2006

Personally I think that the only way that this issue is going to reslove itself is if the family come to a mutual agreement. Judges have no power to bring someone back into the country. Sure, they can pass an order saying something but it doesnt mean that the other party will listen.
And as to what Glo says Religious and Cultral aspects influence the Judges decision ALOT.

**Muezzin** · 09-03-2006

Since it's being tried in Pakistan, I hope that whoever wants custody the most has a lot of money.

I wish I was joking.

I also wish the media would just leave this family alone now.