HOUSTON — Among the new U.S.
citizens sworn in at a ceremony in Houston Tuesday was a 26-year-old
woman from Pakistan who came to the United States after she had acid
thrown in her face 10 years ago. Doctors in Houston performed more than a
score of surgeries to restore her face and, although still scarred, she
is moving on with her life and trying to help other victims of violence
back in her homeland.
After taking the oath of citizenship, Julie Aftab celebrated.
“I have waited eight-and-a-half years to hear those words, and those words mean so much to me,” she said.
“I have waited eight-and-a-half years to hear those words, and those words mean so much to me,” she said.
Ten years ago, when she was 16, two men in Pakistan threw acid in Julie Aftab's face because, she says, she is a Christian.
She says her attackers then spread a false rumor that she had insulted Islam, and mobs threatened her and her family.
“All my friends turned against me, and they set my house on fire,” Aftab explained.
She has lived for the past eight years with Lee and Gloria Erwin, whom she calls her uncle and aunt.
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