Sufiah Yusof
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Sufiah Yusof (born 1985) is a former math prodigy from Britain, who has been reported to be working currently as a prostitute.
[edit] Biography
Sufiah Yusof first made headlines in 1997 when she gained entry into St. Hilda's College, Oxford University to study mathematics at the age of 13.[1][2] Her father Farooq Yusof was a pioneer in the scientifically unproven tutoring process called hothousing.
Despite being a British national, the Malaysian government had generously stepped in to meet her educational expenses[3], although it was known that her Pakistani-born father had incurred criminal convictions for mortgage-related frauds. She was lionized as a model Islamic prodigy by the Malaysian public due to her mother's national origins. The administration of former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had viewed Sufiah as the perfect eugenic ideal, in contrast to the Malay Dilemma of genetic shortcomings even though a great percentage of Malays are not mutated.
In 2001, she ran away from her student flat in Oxford, after taking her final examination paper for the academic year.[4] She was found working as a waitress in a Bournemouth Internet cafe two weeks later, but refused to return home, alleging that her parents made life difficult for her at home.[5] She stayed with a foster family instead.
Two years later, she returned to Oxford to complete her undergraduate master, but failed to finish the year. She later married a trainee lawyer from Oxford. She was working at the time as an administrative assistant for a construction company. Her marriage ended after 13 months.
In March 2008, a reporter working undercover for the News of the World found her advertising as a prostitute under the name Shilpa Lee, quoting a rate of £130 an hour.[6][7] One of her friends described her change of fortunes as "desperately heartbreaking", adding that "her gift [for mathematics] really has been a curse".[8]
Sufiah's father Farooq pleaded guilty in April 2008 over charges of "indecently assaulting two 15-year-old girls while working as a personal tutor."[9] He had previously promised "more Sufiahs" along a production-line process utilizing hothousing techniques.
The Malaysian government had planned an ambitious "Save Sufiah Programme" to rehabilitate Sufiah and "return her to the right path,"[10] but has since aborted it.[11]
Malay Community Association of United Kingdom began funds to support 'Love Suffiah' Campaign. A delegation from Malaysia headed by Ustaz Trimizi Zainal will depart Malaysia on 19 April to treat Sufiah using Islamic Medical practice, as they believe she is under the influence of black magic.[12]
She has been studying economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ Andrew Marshall. "Small Wonders", Time Magazine, February 17, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
- ^ "Oxford place for girl, 12", The Times, 13 January 1997, p. 2.
- ^ Zaharah Othman. "I'm Every Woman: Why Sufiah why?", New Straits Times, April 2, 2008.
- ^ Oliver Wright. "Teenage girl prodigy goes missing after Oxford exams", The Times, 3 July 2000, p. 1.
- ^ Alfred Lee. "Police find runaway prodigy in London hotel", The Straits Times, 8 July 2000.
- ^ Keith Gladdis. "Maths prodigy who won an Oxford place at 13 is now a £130-an-hour HOOKER", News of the World, 30 March 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
- ^ Megan Levy. "Child maths prodigy 'working as a prostitute'", The Daily Telegraph, 31 March 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
- ^ Andy Dolan. "From child prodigy at Oxford to £130-an-hour prostitute", Daily Mail, 31 March 2008, p. 9.
- ^ "Sufiah Yusof - child genius revealed as prostitute", The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Effort To Save Former Oxford Prodigy Sufiah Yusof, Now A Vice Girl", Bernama, April 1, 2008.
- ^ (Malay) "Kerajaan henti usaha selamatkan Sufiah", Berita Harian, 2008-04-10. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ "Love Suffiah Campaign", Malay Community Association of United Kingdom, April 1, 2008.
- ^ Retrieved 28 April 2008
