Leila: Iranian child victim of prostitution

Leila is a 22 years old young woman. For the past to year she has been cared for by a private home for destitute you women in Tehran.

When Leila was nine years old, her mother started to sell her. That time she did not understand, what was happening to her.

Her mother actually tricked her, by saying that she would get chocolate, if Leila would follow her. But instead the mother just took Leila to other places. That fact, made Leila to the main source of income for a family of five.

But a lawyer named Shadi Sedr saved Leila’s life. Shadi is a controversial figure in Iran, while her taking part in human right demonstrations. Therefore she is widely respected and frequently quoted in the press.

Shadi think not Leila’s story is not unique. She means that a girl is considered one the first commodities or properties that can be traded or sold in the eyes of a parent who is poor in Iran.

The problem is that a father in Iran has enormous power over his own children, and if a father decides to kill his own child he will not be sentenced to death, but only will be sent to prison for a couple years.