Pregnant and in Chains

Prisons in the UAE are filled with women who have fallen pregnant whilst unmarried, often due to abuse. Many are domestic workers, particularly vulnerable and often trapped in the UAE under the kafala system. One migrant worker, Laily, describes her ordeal: "He held my hands and feet and abused my honour". Desperate measures are taken to avoid imprisonment, including illegal abortions and escaping from employer's homes. Hessa, a pregnant women about to have an abortion explains,"If my family found out they'd slaughter me". In a country where children are also at risk of imprisonment with their mothers, one activist, Shala, has been providing shelter for accused women. Yet after many years helping vulnerable women, she was asked to leave the country. Through exclusive interviews and shocking undercover footage, the dramatic consequences of UAE's strict laws are revealed.