ASAD
Within a week, Zulaikah has become an internet sensation. She has received support letters and over $10,000 in donations within a few days. Zulaikah and I decided to record a video to catch up on reading and answering online supporters' emails. Around noon I decided to make a quick lunch; while in the kitchen, I heard a knock at the door. When I answered, two men stood in navy tactical uniforms similar to the police.
"Is this the residence of Asad and Zulaikah?"
"Yes, may I ask who it is," I inquired? The two men showed badges. They were for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.)
"We are looking for Zulaikah Bint Malak!"
"Is there a problem?"
"Sir, is she here or not," One of the officers asked in a firm emotionless tone.
When Zulaikah heard her name, she came to the door to inquire what was going on. When the customs laid eyes on her, they pushed past me and immediately handcuffed Zulaikah. When I looked at Zulaikah, I saw the same fear she had when she was in Iraq.
"What is going on!"
"Zulaikah is suspected of being an illegal alien."
"You are mistaken. Zulaikah and I are married. I have paperwork to prove that."
"We are not the people you have to convince. You have to come to the immigration office and state your case," the Immigration officer stated, handing me a business card before whisking Zulaikah away.
I immediately followed a pursuit. When I arrived at the Immigration Office, I talked with the first officer in the waiting area. I was informed that I could not get any information about Zulaikah until she was processed in the system. I waited for six hours before I heard a word. I asked to be allowed to see my wife, but I was refused. I was informed that I had to go online to sign visitation forms. Also, they said that depending on the severity of her crime, she would possibly get bail, which would be on her online profile. Once I received Zulaikah's A-number (Alien Number) for online access, I left.
When I got home, I spent hours looking on the immigration website, searching for my wife's file. Nothing has been posted. I called the Immigration office to see when Zulaikah's information was available. I was informed it would take at least two days. It was already a Friday, so I won't be able to post Zulaikah's bail until Monday. or a Tuesday. So I have left no choice but to leave it in the hands of Allah.
However, I was not going down without a fight. I decided to do a quick video of Zulaikah's arrest. I explained everything that happened in a ten-minute video. I did not even bother to edit it. I had no energy left to even think about making a polished video. It was close to midnight, and I was starting to feel the effect of my exhausting day. So I decided to get some rest.
SUFFIYA
A day after Zulaikah was arrested by I.C.E. and is now at risk of being deported, I finally had my chance to woo Asad. I waited for Asad to return home from work. Asad looked depressed. Poor baby, I know he is hurting, but I did what needed to be done. When Zulaikah is deported, I will love Asad wholeheartedly. I decided to make my move. I got out of the car carrying a picnic basket with a hot meal for him. When I knocked on the door, Asad answered the door. He gave me a look of contempt.
"Suffiya, you need to go. I am not in the mood to deal with you."
"Asad, you don't have to be mean. I brought you food. I made cheddar biscuits and crab cakes. . You can at least invite me in."
"I would not disrespect my wife by allowing another woman to step across this threshold."
"We were married before. What is the problem."
"Because it's disrespectful to Zulaikah, and I will not allow it."
I was finally getting upset with Asad's throw-away attitude toward me.
"I know I messed up our first marriage, but I made tawbah and am ready to make amends for my mistake. Why can't you forgive me?"
"I have forgiven you, but I love my wife."
"That quick, you have only been married to Zulaikah for less than a year. You only married her only in days of knowing her! Did you know she was selling herself for money?"
"I know everything she told me. I was there! How dare you confront me about my wife! you dare to stand the judgment of me when you left me for another man. At least Zulaikah married those men, but you slept with another man behind me. Until you change your evil ways, I will despise you. I am getting a restraining order against you. Stay away from my wife and me!"
"You slandered my name, Asad! Did you have to tell people why we divorced? You don't know what it is like when people at the Masjid stare at you with dirty looks. No one will want to marry me now."
"For me to slander you, it must be false. You cheated and left me for another man. Everyone saw what you did. It was not like you were discreet with your actions. Now get off my porch. Next time you come back here, I will have you arrested for trespassing."
Asad slammed the door in my face. From that point, I give up trying to make amends with Asad. I am leaving town and never coming back here.
*****
After waiting for an exhausting weekend to be over, I prostrated myself on my prayer rug for Fajr prayer the first thing Monday morning. I looked on the Immigration website to see if Zulaikah's information was available. After entering Zulaikah's A-number, her information was available. When I saw her mugshot picture, my heart bled for her. Her eyes were bloodshot red from crying. I looked at the bail, which was set for $3000. I wasted no time entering my credit card information. Once I printed my receipt, I grabbed a granola bar and bottled water before going to the immigration office. I had to wait another two hours before having Zulaikah in my arms again. When they released Zulaikah into my custody, we hugged each other. Zulaikah cried in my arms.
"Let's go home. You must be exhausted," I suggested.
Zulaikah looked at me and shook her head with affirmation.
ZULAIKAH
The next day we went to see an immigration lawyer named Wali Suleiman. Suleiman was a third-generation American Iranian. In his mid-fifties, he was a male with salt and pepper hair combed from the front to the back. Suleiman said that there would first be a hearing to state our case. He laid out a game plan to stop Zulaikah's deportation process at the hearing in two weeks. He encouraged us to file a petition for Asylum, just as a backup plan if I was not granted citizenship. When it was time for our case to be heard, Suleiman stated our case. Suleiman's words were full of empathy and conviction.
"Today, we are here to prove the validity and justifications of one action to pursue a happy and meaningful life. That is what my client Zulaikah had always sought when she was in Iraq. However, for a woman who is divorced, it can be very difficult to have such things. Zulaikah was a woman who was married at the age of fourteen and years later was discarded into the streets like trash.
After months of starvation, she sought the only job she was qualified to do. To marry countless times while a man who declared himself a holy man profited from her exploitation. Like other women trafficked for profit, it takes a toll on one's sanity. Ready to end it all with a quick jump off a bridge, you can say that God or whatever you believe saved her life through the actions of her current husband.
I know what you see in your file about my client's previous marriage, but Zulaikah has not contacted her first husband in years. In Zulaikah's statement, her ex-husband wished for a permanent divorce by denouncing her by mouth three times. According to Islam, Zulaikah's first marriage became null and void by that action.
As far as Zulaikah and Asad, their marriage is valid in so many ways. First is Islam; two people interested in getting married can do so within hours of meeting. They believe they went through the proper channels in Iraq. They also went through the appropriate channels of getting married in the U.S.A.
Now I don't believe it was love at first sight or not; Zulaikah married her now-husband Asad. Did Zulaikah and Asad know each other for a long time? No! However, Asad saw a need to rescue a woman in dire need, and marriage was the only way at that time. Moreover, since they have been married, their relationship has grown into something special. You can see their love and connection to each other online. They are happy. These allegations of Zulaikah still being married have a very questionable source. I have submitted emails from Sheik Abdelnoor, who married or pimped Zulaikah to line his own pockets. He titled it Muktah marriage, but it was just a cover word for him to involve Zulaikah in prostitution.
Those emails show Abdelnoor is demanding money and even threatened them upon my client's refusal. Zulaikah is a victim. If we allow Abdelnoor's plans to grow to fruition and Zulaikah is deported, her life is in danger. I beg you; please do not let that happen. Zulaikah is a good person and deserves all the comfort of her husband and America has to offer."
Hearing an interpreter translate my story into Arabic made my heart warm with joy. After the hearing, we had to wait an hour before we heard judgment. Once the hearing board decided, we were called back into the courtroom as the hearing shuffled the lead spokesman through his papers. My heart raced with fear.
After hearing the words of Wali Suleiman, the board has come to a decision. We will not grant Zulaikah Bint Hamedi permanent citizenship at this time.
My heart momentarily sunk into my chest; however, I continued to listen.
"However, due to the special circumstances of Zulaikah's life experience, we believe her life is endangered by being sent back to her country. Upon reviewing her petition to seek Asylum, we grant you this request at this time for up to three years. Every six months, you are to report to an Asylum officer to review your progress as a temporary citizen. In the meantime, you can once again request permanent citizenship through naturalization."
I did not know what that meant until Suleiman explained that I was happy. He said it gave us a chance to file the necessary paperwork for my permanent citizenship. Within three years, I will finally be granted American citizenship.
THE END