Sufiah Yusof

Sufiah Yusof (born 1984) is a British mathematics prodigy originally from Malaysia.

Early life and education

Sufiah Yusof first made headlines in 1997 when she gained entry into St Hilda's College, Oxford to study mathematics at the age of 13.[1][2]

In 2000, she disappeared from her university for over two weeks, prompting a widely publicised police search. [3]

Biography

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 café two weeks later, but refused to return home, alleging that her parents made life difficult for her at home[5] and complaining of physical and emotional abuse. (Her older brother also later alleged abuse by their father towards the children.)[6] She stayed with a foster family instead.

Yusof married a trainee lawyer from Oxford; their marriage ended after 13 months. At the time, she was working as an administrative assistant for a construction company.

In March 2008, she was discovered working as a prostitute,[6] and was quoted as saying that "I have a nice life and I am in control" and that she had no regrets.[7]

A UK Islamic organization later stated that she had left prostitution.[8]

Personal life

Sufiah's mother, Halimaton, is Malaysian while her father, Farouk, is a Pakistani. Her parents, who now reside in the UK, have been described as devout Muslims.

She now blogs on media issues at her personal website called the Inquiring Feminist and curates the Feminism Channel at Waywire.[9][10][11] She is a citizen of the United Kingdom.

References

  1. ↑ Marshall, Andrew (17 February 2003). "Small Wonders". Time. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  2. ↑ "Oxford place for girl, 12". The Times. 13 January 1997. p. 2.
  3. ↑ "Missing prodigy found safe". BBC News. 2000-07-06. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  4. ↑ Wright, Oliver (3 July 2000). "Teenage girl prodigy goes missing after Oxford exams". The Times. p. 1.
  5. ↑ Lee, Alfred (8 July 2000). "Police find runaway prodigy in London hotel". The Straits Times.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Sufiah Yusof - child genius revealed as prostitute". The Daily Telegraph. 2008-04-01.
  7. ↑ Sufiah Yusof: No regrets on being callgirl, like Pretty Woman, The Daily Telegraph, 8 April 2008.
  8. ↑ Sufiah swaps prostitution for social work, The Star Online, 3 December 2008.
  9. ↑ Inquiring Feminist
  10. ↑ Sufiah a social worker
  11. ↑ "Missing prodigy found safe". BBC News. 2000-07-06. Retrieved 2012-02-13.