Update: On 3 July 2019, SZ was sentenced to 2 years 9 months (plus 4 months) with at least 1 year 4.5 months to be served in prison. Her friends and family are devastated. This judgement was harsh. Since she is in prison, I, Hera Hussain, will be running this page. I go to know her a few years ago when the social enterprise I run (CHAYN) fundraised some money for her so she could use it for her living expenses at university. You can get in touch with me through this account.

I am a Muslim female refugee, who was raped and sexually exploited by her lecturer and barrister at a prominent London university.

I was a victim of hate crime at my dormitory and sought help from one of the teachers, hereafter known as M. M is a senior civil servant and solicitor. M started making sexual advances and raped me.

After being sexually exploited, I entered into a relationship with him. Out of shame for what had happened to me and in depths of despair, I thought I had no other option but to be with him. I was his sex slave, and housekeeper. I thought no one would marry me so I had no choice but to get married to him. But in my faith, I cannot marry outside people of my religion. He told me he would marry me but not convert. M told me that he “had talked about marriage to make it easy for X to have sex”.

It took me much longer to realise I was also a victim of coercive control and Stockholm’s syndrome.

Not only had I been raped by someone I had trusted as being in authority in a new country, but I had also been emotionally and sexually abused by them over the course of our relationship. M constantly made me feel bad about how I looked, talked or of my refugee status.

M had sexual relationships with other women as well at the same time he was with me and this exploitation led to a complete breakdown of my physical, mental and emotional health. I became suicidal and the paramedics were called. I complained of M’s behaviour to professional bodies and tried to get in touch with his family members to talk about what was happening.

He lodged a criminal police case of harassment against me to counter my police report of sexual assault. Due to the trauma I have faced, I am now disabled and experience complex PTSD. I was not always like this. I was a bright and happy student both in my home country and here.

I was found guilty of stalking and harassing him and his partner. I do not think I was adequately represented and my faith, culture, refugee status and PTSD was not taken into account. If I don’t appeal this miscarriage of justice, not only will the truth suffer but I will also go to jail. I’m raising money to apply for an appeal.

All funds raised are sent directly to my solicitor's client account to pay for legal fees.