Yasmine Mohammed has revealed the harrowing reality of escaping a forced marriage to an Al-Qaeda operative, only to face death threats from her own mother for removing her hijab.

The human rights activist told GB News about her "terrifying" ordeal, explaining how her mother decided she "needed to be killed" after she dared to divorce, live independently and uncover her head.

"I was not only escaping my husband and his cronies, but also my mother," Mohammed said, describing the period as "incredibly tumultuous, scary and a terrifying time."

The Canadian author, who grew up in a fundamentalist Islamic household in Vancouver, now heads the charity Free Hearts Free Minds, which supports LGBTQ communities and unconventional thinkers in Muslim countries.

Yasmine Mohammed spoke about her experience on GB News

Mohammed described the suffocating nature of her upbringing, where critical thinking was punished and conformity demanded.

"The entire religion is very authoritarian and tyrannical with women," she told GB News. "Being born and raised in that society and that community and religion, you're not encouraged to have any critical thinking skills and in fact you're punished for having critical thinking."

She explained how followers were expected to "just do as you're told and say what you're supposed to say and everybody needs to move in unison like a school of fish."

The oppression extended beyond psychological control to physical restriction. "It was incredibly suffocating to be in that environment. Emotionally, psychologically and also literally physically. I was suffocating under a god that covered me, head to toe, face covered entirely in two layers of fabric," she said.

Mohammed revealed her own mother wanted her dead

At 19, Mohammed was forced into marriage with a man who later revealed himself to be an Al-Qaeda operative. Her wedding day was marked by trauma, with Mohammed breaking down in tears during the ceremony whilst all the guests turned their backs on her.

The marriage was characterised by violence and control. Mohammed faced regular beatings from her husband over trivial matters, including meals he deemed incorrectly prepared.

Her father was Palestinian and her mother Egyptian, but neither parent offered protection from the abuse. The forced union represented the culmination of years of religious authoritarianism that had defined her childhood in Vancouver.

It was the birth of her daughter that finally gave Mohammed the strength to escape. "When I had my daughter, I just knew that I had to protect her and had to make sure she didn't live this life," she said.

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"She was the reason I got the courage to fight and get away from her father. Thankfully, we're both free today," Mohammed told GB News.

Following her escape, Mohammed has dedicated herself to helping others trapped in similar circumstances. She co-founded the Clarity Coalition, a multi-denominational group that stands for peace, democracy, liberty and secular governance whilst opposing Islamist threats to these values worldwide.

Mohammed also launched Free Hearts, Free Minds, a nonprofit organisation designed to help ex-Muslims navigate life outside the religion. The charity provides crucial support to LGBTQ communities and unconventional thinkers in Muslim countries.

Despite facing ongoing abuse from Islamists, Mohammed continues her activism, using her experience to advocate for those still trapped in oppressive religious environments.