Mental Health Fear Of Misbah’s Mother

The mother of Misbah Rana has told how she gave up her custody fight because she feared the legal battle could bring on a nervous breakdown. Louise Campbell told a BBC programme it was difficult to allow her daughter, also known as Molly Campbell, to live in Pakistan with father, Sajad Rana.

Ms Campbell, from the Isle of Lewis, said the custody fight had begun to take its toll on her mental health. The runaway 12-year-old’s parents reached a settlement last month. It was agreed that Misbah could live with her father, with her mother being given visiting rights.

The custody battle, which was played out in the media spotlight, took place after the 12-year-old left Ms Campbell’s home in Scotland for her father’s home in Lahore last year. Ms Campbell had been granted interim custody of her daughter by the Court of Session in Edinburgh last June. However, Misbah insisted she wanted to live with her father’s family in Pakistan.

The BBC documentary, My Name Is Misbah, followed her mother during the international custody battle.

Ms Campbell had four children with Mr Rana, who she married in 1984 in Glasgow. “I brought them up completely as Muslims, totally and utterly. And looking back I wish I hadn’t,” she said. “Looking back, I wish I had let them wait until they were older and choose for themselves.”

Her marriage to Mr Rana collapsed after 16 years. She suffered a nervous breakdown, which she blamed on the pressure she felt to be a good Muslim.

Ms Campbell, who lives near Stornoway, said the custody battle had begun to ‘take its toll’. “I was really afraid that when I had a nervous breakdown all those years ago while married to Sajad, I had so many similar symptoms,” she said. “And I was scared that if I kept on fighting for Molly I’m not going to be well enough to care for (my baby) Rachel. And there’s no way that was an easy decision to come to.”

At one point, Ms Campbell described life without Molly as ‘torture’. “I just miss her so much,” she said. “All the other children come home from school. I see them out the window. I just want Molly back.”

The programme shows how her relationship with current partner Kenny Campbell came under strain during the custody battle. Mr Campbell said there had been “flying arguments” and said his drinking had gone ‘through the roof’. “Sometimes I’ve gone through a litre of vodka a day, maybe a bottle of wine as well,” he said. “Then what tends to happen is Louise and I have had big rows. It’s a miracle we’ve got this far.”

Storyline – My Name Is Misbah, will be screened on BBC One Scotland at 2235 GMT on Tuesday.