In the words of bell hooks: We cannot dismantle a system as long as we engage in the collective denial about its impact on our lives.
Protecting the vulnerable and the oppressed is a duty of ours in Islam, yet we have failed to stand firmly in the face of injustice, specifically abuse and the many forms that it comes in.
In today's episode, special guest Eman Bare is choosing to courageously share her story by speaking up about the various accounts of abuse, harm and hyper sexualized rumors that have been spread about her.
As a community I believe it's time that we go beyond the unfollow and block button when it comes to taking action against abusers. Why do we place the burden on the victim to share their story so publicly without the support of community leaders at times?
Given the lack of accountability, we are creating loopholes for abusers to get away with what they have done which means that we are also inherently protecting these same abusers and instead dissecting and placing blame on the victim - sending a clear message that they are not safeguarded or to be believed by their community.
In this conversation, we discuss how shame is used as a tool by the oppressor against victims and survivors of abuse, why it's important to publicly name abusers, the lack of accountability amongst our communities and the dangers of victim blaming.
To anyone who has ever endured such harm, may Allah protect you in the same manner that you are choosing to publicly share your story in order for others to not fall victim to these abusers. May you always be believed and supported in every capacity.
Please pass on the following resources to your family and friends:
1. Peaceful Families Project: focuses on preventing all types of abuse in Muslim families, specifically domestic violence.
2. HEART: provides Muslims with the resources, language and choice to nurture sexual health and confront sexual violence.
3. FACE: stands for Facing Abuse in Community Environments, and they promote safer Muslim communities by holding religious and community leaders accountable for abuse.
Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:
@unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Eman Bare on Instagram:
@emanidil