Sold into slavery
Like any teenager, Shyima Hall forgets to make his bed and protest when they have to fulfill two obligations: to vacuum and clean the fish tank. In the house where he lives with his adoptive parents and five siblings, Orange County (California), this 18-year old prefers to lie on the couch and talking on the phone. He wore jeans to the hip and painted nails. In May 2007 he put on a party dress and went to the hairdresser to go to a prom. His life is full of activities: it has a part-time job, do your homework and go camping on weekends. It is actually catchin.
Shyima born in Alexandria (Egypt), and last year closed one chapter of his life that would never have been written. It all began in 2000 when his parents, living in poverty, sold it to a wealthy couple in Cairo. It moved to the United States illegally introduced to the girl, then 10 years, and forced to work day and night in his luxurious residence.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services U.S. human trafficking is today the industry's fastest-growing crime in the world: about 800,000 were driven from their countries each year.
Shyima belonged to the latter category. She and her 10 siblings were raised in a small house that his parents shared with two other families. They had one bathroom and slept in a room piled on blankets spread on the ground. His father was often absent for weeks. "When I was home, he hit us," recalls Shyima.
I've never been to school and his future looked bleak. Nevertheless, he hoped. "There was some happiness and people looking after me," said in court years later.
At age eight she moved with Abdel-Nasser Youssef Ibrahim and his wife, Amal Ahmed Abd Motelib ewis, both thirtysomethings. Shyima's older sister worked as a maid at home, but threw for allegedly stealing money. Shyima was forced by his parents to replace, according to the deal they had with the couple.
Two years passed and Ibrahim and Motelib decided to emigrate with their five children to America to open a business there for imports and exports. Shyima not want to go with them, but Ibrahim said that this did not depend on it. From the kitchen door he heard the couple talking to their parents. "I heard negotiate," he says, "and my parents agreed to sell for 20 euros a month."
The couple brought the girl to the U.S. with a tourist visa for six months, obtained illegally, and took her to his luxurious two-story house in a residential area of California. When finished Shyima housework, were ordered into a room attached to garage sale-ing had no air conditioning or heating. Sometimes locked in. Its furniture was a dirty mattress, a floor lamp and table. She kept her clothes in a suitcase.
He rose at 6 am each day, along with twin sons, aged six. All gave orders, including the three daughters of their bosses, 15, 13 and 11 years. She cooked, served meals, washed dishes, made beds, changed sheets, helped with the laundry, ironed, I vacuumed, swept, mopped and washed the patios. Many times I was not finished by midnight.
One day he would wash his clothes, Motelib stopped her. "He said he could not put my things in the washing machine because they had more dirt than theirs," he recalls. Since then washed their clothes in a plastic bucket that was in the room, and put to dry on wire rack next to the dustbins.
The couple beat Shyima, but she suffered more from confinement and insults. "I said I was stupid and worthless," he says. "It made me feel inferior to them." He ate alone and did not let her go to school or leave home without either of them with her. He was forbidden to disclose their status to others. "They said that the police stop me because he was illegally in the country."
Although never acknowledged that he missed his mother and wept disconsolately against Ibrahim and Motelib a day when he contracted a bad cold. "I saw suffer and did not care," he says. "Still, I had to work. Even gave me medicine. " By nightfall he was exhausted and very lonely. Ibrahim had taken his passport, so I thought it would be there forever.
When he turned 12 years there was no celebration. He spent the day doing housework.
Six months later, the morning of 9 April 2002, Carol Chen, a social worker for Child Protective Services of Orange County, received an anonymous telephone complaint from a case of abuse infano-til. The caller (thought it was a neighbor) revealed that one child lived in the garage of Ibrahim and Motelib, he did work as a maid and not sent to school.
Carole, a researcher with the local police, Tracy Jacobson, came to the residence of Ibrahim. When he opened the door, the agent asked who else lived there. The man replied that his wife and five children.
Shyima born in Alexandria (Egypt), and last year closed one chapter of his life that would never have been written. It all began in 2000 when his parents, living in poverty, sold it to a wealthy couple in Cairo. It moved to the United States illegally introduced to the girl, then 10 years, and forced to work day and night in his luxurious residence.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services U.S. human trafficking is today the industry's fastest-growing crime in the world: about 800,000 were driven from their countries each year.
Shyima belonged to the latter category. She and her 10 siblings were raised in a small house that his parents shared with two other families. They had one bathroom and slept in a room piled on blankets spread on the ground. His father was often absent for weeks. "When I was home, he hit us," recalls Shyima.
I've never been to school and his future looked bleak. Nevertheless, he hoped. "There was some happiness and people looking after me," said in court years later.
At age eight she moved with Abdel-Nasser Youssef Ibrahim and his wife, Amal Ahmed Abd Motelib ewis, both thirtysomethings. Shyima's older sister worked as a maid at home, but threw for allegedly stealing money. Shyima was forced by his parents to replace, according to the deal they had with the couple.
Two years passed and Ibrahim and Motelib decided to emigrate with their five children to America to open a business there for imports and exports. Shyima not want to go with them, but Ibrahim said that this did not depend on it. From the kitchen door he heard the couple talking to their parents. "I heard negotiate," he says, "and my parents agreed to sell for 20 euros a month."
The couple brought the girl to the U.S. with a tourist visa for six months, obtained illegally, and took her to his luxurious two-story house in a residential area of California. When finished Shyima housework, were ordered into a room attached to garage sale-ing had no air conditioning or heating. Sometimes locked in. Its furniture was a dirty mattress, a floor lamp and table. She kept her clothes in a suitcase.
He rose at 6 am each day, along with twin sons, aged six. All gave orders, including the three daughters of their bosses, 15, 13 and 11 years. She cooked, served meals, washed dishes, made beds, changed sheets, helped with the laundry, ironed, I vacuumed, swept, mopped and washed the patios. Many times I was not finished by midnight.
One day he would wash his clothes, Motelib stopped her. "He said he could not put my things in the washing machine because they had more dirt than theirs," he recalls. Since then washed their clothes in a plastic bucket that was in the room, and put to dry on wire rack next to the dustbins.
The couple beat Shyima, but she suffered more from confinement and insults. "I said I was stupid and worthless," he says. "It made me feel inferior to them." He ate alone and did not let her go to school or leave home without either of them with her. He was forbidden to disclose their status to others. "They said that the police stop me because he was illegally in the country."
Although never acknowledged that he missed his mother and wept disconsolately against Ibrahim and Motelib a day when he contracted a bad cold. "I saw suffer and did not care," he says. "Still, I had to work. Even gave me medicine. " By nightfall he was exhausted and very lonely. Ibrahim had taken his passport, so I thought it would be there forever.
When he turned 12 years there was no celebration. He spent the day doing housework.
Six months later, the morning of 9 April 2002, Carol Chen, a social worker for Child Protective Services of Orange County, received an anonymous telephone complaint from a case of abuse infano-til. The caller (thought it was a neighbor) revealed that one child lived in the garage of Ibrahim and Motelib, he did work as a maid and not sent to school.
Carole, a researcher with the local police, Tracy Jacobson, came to the residence of Ibrahim. When he opened the door, the agent asked who else lived there. The man replied that his wife and five children.
- Are there other children? -Pressed researcher.
Ibrahim admitted he had a girl of 12 years and said it was a distant relative of his.
- Can we talk to her? Asked the police.
Shyima was cleaning the floor, not knowing that within minutes their captivity would end. Ibrahim said in Arabic to come down and refused to serve them. Dressed in a ragged shirt and baggy pants, the girl ran to the door.
Seeing red, rough hands and the girl, Carole called an interpreter on your mobile. Shyima said he had two years living in the country and had never been to school. The researcher immediately into custody.
Alone in the backseat of the patrol car en route to a children's home where it would temporarily Shyima prayed that never again see their captors. "It was a surprisingly strong girl," recalls Tracy. "I never cried. Unlike other children, he liked the idea they were in custody because he felt safe. "
A few hours later, after obtaining a search warrant, the investigator returned to the house of Ibrahim with several FBI agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In the garage took pictures Shyima dirty mattress. Along with a broken lamp had a bucket of soapy water, and soil, folded laundry. "The girl did not live even remotely like the rest of the family," says Tracy. The immigration agent Bob Schoch adds: "There are animals that receive better treatment."
In an attempt to justify the situation, Ibrahim showed them the contract that parents of the girl and he had signed before a notary. "The paper said that Shyima work with them 10 years for a salary for his parents $ 30 a month," says Tracy, who detained Ibrahim and Motelib and accused of conspiracy, involuntary servitude, exploitation and illegal lodging of a foreign .
On Shyima rescue, immigration officials gave him two choices: return to Egypt and stay in the U.S. and live in a foster home. She decided to stay. I wanted to start a new and better life.
During the next two years lived with two foster families. The first taught him to speak and read English, the second was intended to instill strict observance of the Muslim religion, but as she refused, she was transferred to another house. "I just wanted to be a normal teenager," she says
He soon turned that desire. Chuck and Jenny Hall, who had two daughters and a son, had just bought a house with four bedrooms in Orange County and saw that they had room for more children. After being foster parents of a 15-year and one nephew, Chuck, 13, decided to get another. In his first meeting with Shyima, everyone got along. "She has the same sense of humor as me," says Chuck, manager of a manufacturer of uniforms.
She asked what were the rules at home and what are their obligations.
"Everything is negotiable," replied Chuck.
"Going to school and homework will be your priorities," added Jenny, who is guiding youth. We will treat you as if you were our daughter and be part of the family.
Shyima was already 15 years and had become a beautiful young lady. But their new home took more than his suitcase. "It was full of rage" he says. The first six months suffered from insomnia and anxiety, making regular visits to a therapist and taking antidepressants.
As time grew more confident in herself. At school he made friends, had her first boyfriend and joined the track team. Got a part-time job and began to participate in social activities of the church. He even offered as a counselor at a camp for children with low self-esteem.
Ibrahim and Motelib pleaded guilty in exchange for reduced sentence them. Shyima attended the public hearing at which dictate the sentence in October 2006.
"What happened was due to my ignorance of the law, but I accept full responsibility," said Ibrahim to court.
Motelib was less repentant. Undeterred said:
"I gave the same treatment he gave him in Egypt. If she had told me what things he disliked, I would have changed my behavior.
Unable to contain the anger, Shyima asked to speak.
"She is an adult and knows the difference between good and evil-pointed. Why not give me love? Is it that I am also a human being? The time I spent with them I felt as if there were. What I did I will leave scars for the rest of my life.
Ibrahim was sentenced to three years imprisonment and Motelib to 22 months. They were ordered to pay $ 76,137 (48,000 euros) for services rendered Shyima. Both will be deported to Egypt when they leave prison.
After sentencing, Shyima celebrated by going to buy a dress for the dance of welcome to high school. It was black, long and satiny. With part of the compensation money also bought a laptop, digital camera and a new car, put the rest into a college fund.
"He is very strong-willed and independent." notes Jenny, who along with her husband legally adopted Shyima in 2007. "He knows what he wants."
She said she would like to be a policeman to help others. We also want to travel to Egypt someday to see his brothers. But for now enjoy the dream he never thought he would come true: to live as a normal teenager.
Ibrahim admitted he had a girl of 12 years and said it was a distant relative of his.
- Can we talk to her? Asked the police.
Shyima was cleaning the floor, not knowing that within minutes their captivity would end. Ibrahim said in Arabic to come down and refused to serve them. Dressed in a ragged shirt and baggy pants, the girl ran to the door.
Seeing red, rough hands and the girl, Carole called an interpreter on your mobile. Shyima said he had two years living in the country and had never been to school. The researcher immediately into custody.
Alone in the backseat of the patrol car en route to a children's home where it would temporarily Shyima prayed that never again see their captors. "It was a surprisingly strong girl," recalls Tracy. "I never cried. Unlike other children, he liked the idea they were in custody because he felt safe. "
A few hours later, after obtaining a search warrant, the investigator returned to the house of Ibrahim with several FBI agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In the garage took pictures Shyima dirty mattress. Along with a broken lamp had a bucket of soapy water, and soil, folded laundry. "The girl did not live even remotely like the rest of the family," says Tracy. The immigration agent Bob Schoch adds: "There are animals that receive better treatment."
In an attempt to justify the situation, Ibrahim showed them the contract that parents of the girl and he had signed before a notary. "The paper said that Shyima work with them 10 years for a salary for his parents $ 30 a month," says Tracy, who detained Ibrahim and Motelib and accused of conspiracy, involuntary servitude, exploitation and illegal lodging of a foreign .
On Shyima rescue, immigration officials gave him two choices: return to Egypt and stay in the U.S. and live in a foster home. She decided to stay. I wanted to start a new and better life.
During the next two years lived with two foster families. The first taught him to speak and read English, the second was intended to instill strict observance of the Muslim religion, but as she refused, she was transferred to another house. "I just wanted to be a normal teenager," she says
He soon turned that desire. Chuck and Jenny Hall, who had two daughters and a son, had just bought a house with four bedrooms in Orange County and saw that they had room for more children. After being foster parents of a 15-year and one nephew, Chuck, 13, decided to get another. In his first meeting with Shyima, everyone got along. "She has the same sense of humor as me," says Chuck, manager of a manufacturer of uniforms.
She asked what were the rules at home and what are their obligations.
"Everything is negotiable," replied Chuck.
"Going to school and homework will be your priorities," added Jenny, who is guiding youth. We will treat you as if you were our daughter and be part of the family.
Shyima was already 15 years and had become a beautiful young lady. But their new home took more than his suitcase. "It was full of rage" he says. The first six months suffered from insomnia and anxiety, making regular visits to a therapist and taking antidepressants.
As time grew more confident in herself. At school he made friends, had her first boyfriend and joined the track team. Got a part-time job and began to participate in social activities of the church. He even offered as a counselor at a camp for children with low self-esteem.
Ibrahim and Motelib pleaded guilty in exchange for reduced sentence them. Shyima attended the public hearing at which dictate the sentence in October 2006.
"What happened was due to my ignorance of the law, but I accept full responsibility," said Ibrahim to court.
Motelib was less repentant. Undeterred said:
"I gave the same treatment he gave him in Egypt. If she had told me what things he disliked, I would have changed my behavior.
Unable to contain the anger, Shyima asked to speak.
"She is an adult and knows the difference between good and evil-pointed. Why not give me love? Is it that I am also a human being? The time I spent with them I felt as if there were. What I did I will leave scars for the rest of my life.
Ibrahim was sentenced to three years imprisonment and Motelib to 22 months. They were ordered to pay $ 76,137 (48,000 euros) for services rendered Shyima. Both will be deported to Egypt when they leave prison.
After sentencing, Shyima celebrated by going to buy a dress for the dance of welcome to high school. It was black, long and satiny. With part of the compensation money also bought a laptop, digital camera and a new car, put the rest into a college fund.
"He is very strong-willed and independent." notes Jenny, who along with her husband legally adopted Shyima in 2007. "He knows what he wants."
She said she would like to be a policeman to help others. We also want to travel to Egypt someday to see his brothers. But for now enjoy the dream he never thought he would come true: to live as a normal teenager.
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