Isma is a character who is quite sure of her identity and the values and beliefs that she chooses to follow. She is a realistic person who makes rational and well thought out decisions rather than acting out on her immediate emotions. As a result of her strong moral values that she uses to discern right from wrong in the world around her, it is no surprise that she makes the decision to report Parvaiz to the police. Isma’s values as someone who relies on teleological ethics leaves her to use the consequences of actions to be the deciding factor of whether something is moral or immoral.

I think that for both moral subjectivism and moral realism it is quite hard to determine what is clearly right or wrong as every choice made has multiple aspects to it. With Ismas’ character this is an idea that she seems to ignore and the multiple aspects that lead to a decision being made isn’t something she looks into. She is an objective person who sees the decision Parvaiz made for what it is and the manner in which it is viewed by society. Although this is quite an impersonal outlook to take on as Parvaiz’s sister, Isma realises the fact that in order for Aneeka and her to continue living in society, they will have to let Parvaiz go. As British Muslims the three siblings are already treated as outsiders in society and Parvaizs’ actions have only further heightened the fear and paranoia that Isma has as a minority. 

Isma reflects the character Ismene from the play ‘Antigone’ as both have a realistic understanding of the world and their place in it. This knowledge drives the decisions that they make with regards to choosing between family and society.

It is difficult to say whether Isma’s decisions were right or wrong. Aside from fulfilling her duty to society, Isma makes the choice that will protect her and Aneeka. She prioritises the future over the past and chooses to secure a safe life for the only family that she has left. This is a difficult but rational decision to make. However, Parvaiz is a character who garners sympathy as someone who is confused and unsure of his identity, and as his sister Isma is well aware of this feeling. Perhaps ignoring the fact that this decision wasn’t completely driven by Parvaizs’ selfishness is quite unfair and can be seen as immoral when siding with the portrayal of her brother, a lost British Muslim orphan, as a criminal.