Malaysian transsexual Fatine's UK love story has sparked so much hate back home that she fears to return.
"I am so frightened to go back. I am worried for my safety," she said in response to what she claimed was a Malay tabloid's wrongful portrayal of her love and civil partnership marriage to a Briton.
She said she had been receiving many emails and comments from people condemning and accusing her of insulting the Malaysian government.
Wedding bliss...Fatine and Ian on the day of their marriage
Fatine, who was born Mohammed Fazdil Min Bahari said it was frustrating that people didn’t understand that she came to the UK because she wanted to be with Ian Young, the man she loved.
The 36-year old make-up artist, said she could not do that in Malaysia, adding that people only seemed to be taking a religious point of view over the matter.
Speaking up for the first time after The Sun newspaper in London broke the story, Fatine said she did not know what to do as her family had already disowned her.
"I’ve spent hours on the phone asking for forgiveness. I love them although but I can’t change what has happened," she said.
Fatine said it was a shame that the Malay tabloid had "twisted" their story, stressing that as it was never their intention to insult the Malay community.
"They also put my father’s name in it, which was unnecessary and my mother has been left frightened to leave the house," he added.
Fatine said she regretted that the community was taking it personally.
She said she appreciated that the Malays are very traditional and "people like me aren’t acceptable" and hoped that things would cool down eventually.
Fatine, who married Young in a civil partnership in May, faces deportation after her Leave to Remain visa was rejected by UK's Home Office over an "incorrect" photograph.
A second application with a passport photograph with a white background as required, instead of blue, was submitted for reconsideration but it was also thrown out in October.
Fatine and Ian fear that they would be in danger if they return to Malaysia
The couple have since submitted their third application for a Right to Family Life under the Human Rights Act in Britain.
On Monday, Immigration director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said the department might take action against Fatine when she returns home as it views problems like overstaying seriously.
Young, 30, who runs a property maintenance company, however, said Fatine’s application was still being processed by the UK Border Agency and she should not be classified as an overstayer.
He also claimed that as a result of the "misleading" article, everyone was misreading their story as an insult to Islam which it was never intended to be.
"All we want is to be married, be happy and living together. The only way we can do this is over here in the UK," he said.
He said the article made it sound like they were trying to make a mockery of Islamic laws, which was never their intention.
"As a result of the way we have been portrayed, I feel that we would be in more danger than ever if we were to try and live in Malaysia," he said.
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