A Danish woman, identified as “Rumeya” for her safety, has shared her harrowing experience of being trapped in Kenya for four and a half years on a re-education trip orchestrated by her father. This ordeal included forced marriage, female circumcision, and being sold for rape. Her father was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2023 for the violence, deprivation of liberty, rape, and forced marriage he inflicted on Rumeya and her brother.

The events leading to Rumeya’s abduction began when she started to embrace Danish culture, leading to conflicts with her parents, who adhered to strict Muslim traditions. Her father disapproved of her wearing Western clothing, such as a black denim skirt she bought on a school trip, and even tore it up in front of her. This act was part of a larger pattern of control and suppression aimed at keeping her within the confines of their religious and cultural norms.

Before being sent to Kenya, Rumeya experienced a period of rebellion against her parents’ strict rules. She removed her headscarf, dyed her hair, and sought acceptance among her Danish classmates. This desire for freedom and integration was seen as a threat by her father, who enrolled her in a Muslim free school in March 2017. However, she was bullied and ostracized for not conforming to the school’s religious expectations.

Despite the school’s concerns, Rumeya’s father convinced them that the trip to Kenya was a harmless vacation. However, the moment the plane doors closed, his demeanor changed, and Rumeya realized she was being taken against her will.

Re-education trips, often aimed at young Muslims who deviate from traditional values, remain a hidden phenomenon. While authorities have received inquiries about such cases, experts believe the actual number is much higher.