Monday, October 29, 2018

On Rape/Sexual Assault Tropes in Muslim Communities – An Islamic Response (Part II)

Editorial Note: TRIGGER WARNING – This article contains explicit stories of sexual assault and trauma. This is part two of a two-part series on rape culture and sexual abuse within Muslim communities and will focus on other arguments used to blame victims as well as examining these arguments from the Islamic standpoint. Part one debunks common false statements often given to excuse or ignore sexual abuse and traumaAlso, the terms “victim” and “survivor” are both used in this piece at the discretion of the person who was relating their story of sexual trauma.
Rape culture isn’t limited to a Muslims nor does it manifest in the same ways in Muslim (or religions) and non-Muslim communities. Each culture and society has certain factors unique to them that contribute to an overall toxic and dangerous environment when it comes to sexual violence. Some attitudes, however are common across communities. The end result, is a deeply painful one: A society in which sexual violence continues to take place, often without consequences, due to the stigma and taboo surrounding the matter as well as its normalization.
In Muslim communities there are certain tropes that are perpetuated by many to excuse (or even justify) sexual violence — some in the guise of religiosity and some as solely cultural. We will continue to examine these tropes, read more stories from victims and consider an Islamic response to these beliefs.
“A woman’s honor lies in her virginity.”
No individual’s “honor” or value as a person or as a Muslim lies in their virginity. While chastity is a value that is deeply important in Islam, it applies to men and women. The Quran speaks highly of believers who maintain their chastity, both within and outside of marriage.
The concept of virginity, however, as held by many people, is not one which has an Islamic basis. The physical state of virginity (i.e. of a person who has not had any sexual interactions before) is praiseworthy for both the Muslim man and women, who have withheld from sexual relationships before marriage. However, virginity can also cease to exist due to factors outside of a person’s control, such as rape. Thus, there is no Islamic evidence to state that any individual’s honor is dependent upon their virginity, or that they lose that honor upon ceasing to be virgins.
Rather, the honor of any individual, man or woman lies in their mere existence as human beings, and in particular, as believers. A woman’s ‘izzah is not stripped away simply because someone violated the sanctity of her body; nor does any boy or man who has been raped or sexually attacked lose their honor.
Verily the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is (the one who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Quran 49:13)
Thus, it is very clearly established that honor lies solely in one’s connection to Allah and not upon unjust standards created by human beings.
“Men and boys can’t be raped.”
This myth is a crippling one, yet is incredibly pervasive amongst both non-Muslims as well as Muslims. The truth is that boys and men are also victims of sexual violence; statistics show that males experience rates of sexual violence roughly equal to women.
Men and boys are just as vulnerable to predators. While currently available records show that at least one in sixteen men and boys have been the victims of sexual assault or rape, the sad truth is that male victims often face even greater stigma than female victims do and thus under-report significantly.
The Muslim community is not immune to this; Muslim boys and men are also victims of sexual assault and violence.
It was my first job at the masjid. My responsibility was to teach the kids after school on secular subjects regarding math and reading. The community I’m from is filled with old men with an urge to assualt and sexually molest little kids.
From the time I was in Sunday school learning Quran I have witnessed teachers sexually touch girls while teaching them how to pray, groping their behind while trying to make their back straight going into ruku and even “accidently falling on them.” These type of people are very common in our community, and when community leaders do this it is very disturbing. Leaders who lead prayer and give khutbah are the rapists who got away with their evil acts. A few years ago a man was caught in the basement of our neighborhood trying to rape a little girl. He is now in prison. The evidence was recorded. If it wasn’t, I’m pretty sure he would have gotten away and still continue his rampage destroying the minds of young boys and girls.
Consider this story:
I was 14 when I got my first job at the masjid. The mu’azin, who was a perverted old man, came to me regarding help on his citizenship test. As a employee of the masjid, I felt as if it was my job to help others who are also part of the masjid. So, after teaching the kids with their homework, I would go to his office to help him with his work. The problem with rapists is that they like to use every chance to get to know you and lure you in to their actions.
Every day when I went, I would notice that he would look at me a certain way and have little focus on what I would say. He would stare at me with his eyes lit up with a perverted smile. I didn’t take this seriously, as I was 14 and well capable of defending myself. The night that threw me off was the day I cut off any relation with this man. He asked me to grab the Quran from his bed, but I refused as I was not comfortable going into his bed. As I was trying to leave, he tried to jump on me. Disgusted, I threw him off me and left. Any other move, he would have been knocked out cold with a broken nose. Since it was the masjid, I tried to keep it cool. He then called me and was trying to offer payment. The payment was not in money but a BANANA.
I let go of his actions, thinking that he would change. I was wrong of that . He later got fired for getting caught sexually molesting a child.
If I had spoken up earlier to any member of the committee, that could have been avoided. That other child could have been saved from the trauma of sexual abuse.
What I have learned through my experience is that staying silent because of fear will only create more trouble for the future. Allowing men to get away with these types of actions makes room for more assaults in the future.” (male victim)
“Only men sexually assault women.”
Another misconception is that only men commit violations of a sexual nature, and too often the focus on preventing sexual crimes tends to hone in on on women wearing hijab and avoiding non-Mahram men.
However, women, too, are capable of such vile actions towards male and female victims.Thirty-five percent of male victims of rape or sexual assault reported female perpetrators; many women also experienced sexual violence at the hands of other women.
It was the summer of 2004. I had just finished up my first year of middle school and was looking forward to the seventh grade. During vacation, my mother, sister and I took a trip to Pakistan. I was 12 years old.
Prior to visiting my family overseas, we would all keep in touch via phone calls. I had a set of cousins who I would routinely talk to. The last time we met was in 2000, so I was looking forward to seeing them all again. I was particularly looking forward to seeing my cousin Alia again. I didn’t have an older sister and she was the next best thing.
Alia changed. She was always tense and very policing. The things that we enjoyed were all of a sudden bad or wrong in her eyes. Every other word that came out of her mouth was a criticism of how I carried myself. I laughed too loudly, I didn’t sit properly, my hair was always down and uncovered, my clothes fit too tight. She mocked me because I had not finished the Quran yet and would constantly ask, “Are you even a Muslim?” or “Do you even believe in Allah?”
One day while I was talking to her brother Daniyal, she barked at me to come in the kitchen. She yelled at me before for talking to him, so I was expecting another scolding. She told me that she wanted to be my friend again and was only harsh because I was a growing girl in need of discipline. She said that I needed to be worthy enough to become her friend again.
One night, as we were all getting ready for bed (I shared a room with my sister and mom during our stay), Alia entered and asked my mom if her and I can have a slumber party. I was never allowed to go to slumber parties back home so I got very excited when my mom said yes.
After entering Alia’s room, I rolled my sleeping bag out on the floor next to hers and we started talking about school. I remember telling her how much I missed her and wanted to have fun with her again
“I always enjoyed having slumber parties with my other cousins but they are too young to understand what we as women know. I am noticing that you are becoming a woman and there are things that you need to know now,” Alia told me.
She attempted to give me “the talk.” I was already aware of the basic mechanics of sex thanks to school, which is why I found her rendition rather comical. Everything she said was wrong, and to this day, I don’t know if she was serious or just making stuff up on purpose. She was 21-years-old, after all. Although I was weirded out by her, I didn’t find her actions threatening. During the day, she would continue to bark at me over everything I did.
The conversations that we had at night would always end up with her talking about sex. When she noticed me getting uncomfortable, she would get angry for not taking her lessons seriously and that I would make a terrible wife. I recall her telling me how I always need to wear sexy underwear, use tongue when I kiss, and regularly shave my body hair.
A few days passed, and [one morning] I woke up as her body was pressed up against me. She was spooning me from behind, and her hands were pressing my chest. I heard her moans in my ear. When I swatted her hand away, she got angry at me and claimed that I hated her. I ended up apologizing and let her sleep the way she wanted to. She insisted that I stroke her breasts, and I complied. This is the farthest it ever went.
The only people who know about these incidents are my close friends. I haven’t told anyone in my family as she is regarded as a respectable, religious woman (still unmarried). I can safely assume that her word will be trusted over mine. Occasionally, whenever I interact with her via Skype, she always tries to give me advice on religion and manners. I don’t take any of it seriously. (female victim)
“This is why women are supposed to stay indoors.”
Women are allowed to leave their homes. We are not obligated to remain indoors at all times, contrary to those who use the Prophetic statement that “women’s homes are better for them” as a way of keeping women controlled and restricted.
The Mothers of the Believers — the wives of RasulAllah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his female Companions — all lived their lives normally. They were not confined to their homes nor were they were not commanded to cloister themselves. As long as they observed hijab correctly, they not only left their homes but were actively engaged in the public sphere. Many female Companions ran their own businesses, were farmers, sold their wares in the marketplace, attended the masjid regularly and even joined the Messenger of Allah in jihad. He never prohibited the believing women of his time from leaving their homes, and, indeed, he warned others against forbidding women from attending the masjid.
When it comes to sexual assault, location is irrelevant. It can take place at home or in the street; in a masjid or a park; in a school or at a hospital. A victim should never be blamed for the crime committed against them.
I was 17-years-old, and it was my first umrah trip with my family. It was our first day in Madinah, and we had just come back from Dhuhr salah at the Haram. I was standing in the lobby of our hotel waiting for the lift. My mother and grandparents were with me, as well as some other people I didn’t know who were also waiting for the lift. I was laughing and chatting to my family, when suddenly I felt a hand gripping my buttocks, pinching and rubbing. It took about ten seconds for my brain to register what was happening and then to react, I was in such shock. As I turned around, the man was walking away and out of the hotel.
It happened so quickly that my family didn’t even see it. I started crying immediately.
A number of things that stand out to me about this event:
1) There were people standing around me who surely must have seen it, but didn’t say anything, didn’t try to stop the perpetrator or apprehend him.
2) This happened in this holy city of Madinah. The incident took my self confidence and my sense of security for the rest of the trip. It completely tainted my Umrah experience and led to many months of denial, anger and frustration regarding the toxic culture which plagues the Nabi (s.a.w)’s precious city.
3) when I told some people about this event, they simply said that this is Allah’s will, and He is simply testing my Eemaan. I found this deeply hurtful; it implies that Allah intended for me to go through this trauma. This contradicts my view of a loving, kind and merciful creator. What’s more is that statements like that strip the perpetrators of any responsibility or accountability, as it implies that they are not men with superiority complexes and deeply ingrained toxic masculinity that comes as a result of a patriarchal society, but rather pawns in Allah’s plan of trials and testing for the lives of innocent victims. (female victim)
“There’s no such thing as marital rape.”
The term “marital rape” is a heavily contested one, with many people claiming that there is no such thing in Islam. Regardless of what you want to call it, the mere act of physically forcing an unwilling individual, even if they are your spouse, into an unwanted sexual encounter — such that you are causing them physical, emotional and psychological harm — is completely wrong and sinful.
The hadith of “angels cursing” a wife who rejects her husband’s advances does not justify a man forcing himself upon his wife. Rather, it reinforces that fact that even in a circumstance where a woman refuses to engage in intimacy with her husband, without reason (illness, distress and numerous other factors are all considered to be legitimate reason), he cannot use force against her. Instead, he must console himself with the knowledge of the spiritual consequences for her decision. (It must also be noted that a husband who withholds intimacy from his wife, without legitimate reason, is also considered to be blameworthy.)
Scholars have noted that should a wife continue to withhold from intimacy, the recourse for the husband is to go to the appropriate Islamic legal authority and to seek a means of resolving the matter through them.
For more information regarding the Islamic understanding of marital rape, see here. At the end of the day, regardless of whether you are married to an individual or not, it is not permissible to force anyone into a sexual interaction.
“Someone who was raped is the same as someone who committed zina.”
There is a huge difference between someone who engaged in consensual, impermissible sexual intercourse with another willing party (called zina) and someone who was violated against their will.
The Hadd punishment for rape does not apply to the victim; the only person to be punished is the rapist. In some circumstances, such as if the rapist uses a weapon in any capacity, they may also be considered to fall under the crime of “terrorist,” a crime that incurs a far more severe Hadd punishment than merely lashing or stoning. Nor is a victim of rape obliged to produce four witnesses.
The belief that a victim of rape is equivalent to someone who engaged in zina is one borne of sheer ignorance and has devastating consequences for the innocent women and men who have been victimized. As it is, the psychological repercussions of rape are life-changing; to be accused of being complicit and even blameworthy for the violation is torturous. No one should ever accuse a victim of sexual violence of being responsible for what happened to them.
“These things didn’t happen at the time of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions. These things don’t happen to pious people.”
This is an example of religious naivete. Even in the time of RasulAllah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), people were people. While there was incredible goodness amongst the earliest Muslims, there were also people who did commit sins. This included everything from alcoholism to theft to zina to, yes, rape.
Narrated Wa’il ibn Hujr:
When a woman went out in the time of the Prophet (ﷺ) for prayer, a man attacked her and overpowered (raped) her.
She shouted and he went off, and when a man came by, she said: “That (man) did such and such to me.” And when a company of the Emigrants came by, she said: “That man did such and such to me.”
They went and seized the man whom they thought had had intercourse with her and brought him to her.
She said: “Yes, this is he.” Then they brought him to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
When he (the Prophet) was about to pass sentence, the man who (actually) had assaulted her stood up and said: “Messenger of Allah, I am the man who did it to her.”
He (the Prophet) said to her: “Leave, for Allah has forgiven you.” But he told the man some good words (Abu Dawud said: meaning the man who was seized), and of the man who had had intercourse with her, he said: “Stone him to death.”
This hadith alone is proof enough that even in the most sacred of cities, at the time of the Messenger of Allah himself, rape and sexual assault were crimes that existed. The difference, of course, is that RasulAllah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not hesitate to deal with the matter immediately and appropriately.
Why Does This Happen? What Can We Do?
Sexual crimes are committed because — to put it very simplistically — the criminal has no fear of Allah. They also have no sense of conscience towards the person whom they have reduced to an object. They may have a sense of power over the victim, whether physical or social. Other factors, such as poverty, lack of education, the increasing prevalence of violent pornography, the normalization of hypersexualization and more also contribute to the sense of emboldenment and entitlement that abusers have.
There is, unfortunately, a great deal of ignorance and even wilful denial over the reality of rape and sexual assault — how it is perceived within the Shar’iah, how common it is in our communities, and how we should deal with it. Our role, as individuals and as a community, is to educate ourselves and our families and work to ensure that we neither perpetrate such crimes nor enable others in doing so.
As Muslims, we must be concerned with justice. We must be dedicated to upholding the rights of the vulnerable, eradicating these types of crimes and dealing with the perpetrators severely. We cannot afford to enable or protect these criminals — our Aakhirah is at stake. We must be willing to have uncomfortable conversations and discussions and even to engage in painful confrontations. Sadly, there are far too many abusers among lay people and those in positions of leadership in our communities. Far too many people would prefer to turn a blind eye to the existence of sexual assault and abuse.
Allah has commanded us to enjoin the good and forbid the evil; we are an Ummah sent to uphold His laws, to hold transgressors accountable, and to fight against oppression wherever it may be – whether it is political or social, from outside of our community or from within it.
Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining the good and forbidding evil. And it is they who are the successful. (Quran 3:104)
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. (Quran 3:110)

Halaloween, Haraamoween

Halaloween is what happens when Muslims don't have the backbone to teach their children to have a sense of self confidence in their Islamic identity, and instead try to weakly overcompensate by doing a fake Halloween at the masjid.
There is literally no need to send your kids to "Halaloween" because you feel bad that they're missing out on actual Halloween.
What you SHOULD feel bad about is that you clearly haven't taught them what it means to be a person of principle and to be okay with not participating in *everything* that nonMuslims do.
Don't tell me "oh but Muslim kids never have fun!"
If your kids don't have fun on a regular basis, that's your fault. Why aren't you doing fun things with them? Family fun nights? Random fun outings and activities with friends?
Teach your kids some basic Islamic identity. Educate your kids about the difference between our Eids, & nonMuslim celebrations that are literally based on shirk and kufr.
Teach your kids to have a spine - to be confident in their identity, to be okay with not fitting in always.
You shouldn't be doing "Halaloween" as a reactionary option to Halloween.
You should be engaged with your kids on a regular basis, having conversations with them daily about these topics and themes, and giving them positive experiences related to Islam and being Muslim. Your kids should associate Islam and being Muslim with happy memories - whether it is making Jumu'ah a daily Eid in practise, or the fun of going to the masjid for Maghrib and Isha and meeting good friends, or playing pingpong and foozball at madrasah.
If your kids think they need Halaloween (or worse: if you think they need Halaloween!) bc there's nothing fun for them... that's your fault.
Here's the thing. Loads of us Muslims grew up in the West, not celebrating such things, and we came out totally untraumatized.
Here's another thing: kids are resilient. They're also not stupid. Talk to them at their level, don't patronize or lecture, but explain WHY we do not celebrate Halloween or Christmas or any other unIslamic holiday.
They actually do get it.
It's parents who are insecure.
Halloween is on a school night this year anyway. There's literally no need to send them to Halaloween bc "oh otherwise they'd be out there with everyone else!"
No, they'd only be out there if you as a parent are incapable of your job in keeping them busy at home.
Better yet, teach your kids what the only meaningful part of Halloween is... the 50% off candy sales the next day.
Priorities, yo.
Look, I grew up in Canada, never celebrated a single nonMuslim holiday in my life despite being surrounded by all the trappings. My siblings and I emerged unscathed and untraumatized. We have great memories of growing up Muslim that had nothing to do with Halaloween.
Tl;dr: Don't be an insecure parent who tries to make up for lack of Islamic conversations with your kids by setting up Halaloween. Just wait for Nov 1st candy sales.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Good Muslim Women

Before you talk about the trauma of motherhood, or how your masjid deliberately excludes women, or how you have been preyed upon by marriage bandits or a superstar da'ee...

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

No, of course you're not a feminist. Of course you hphold Muslim male superiority. Of course you don't think that *all* men are bad. Of course they're not to blame.

Before you talk about being a woman, about what you were told womanhood meant, about becoming a woman...

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

No, of course you don't think that men are responsible for the oppression of women. Of course you think that men have it just as bad, if not worse. Of course you know how privileged women are in Islam.

Before you endure the catcalls you endure every time you walk out of the house, before you talk about the time you were raped, before you talk about being sexually assaulted in Hajj or Umrah, before you mention the abuse of women...

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

No, of course you don't deny the obligation of hijab. Of course you dress appropriately. Of course you were with your mahram. Of course you know that men are abused too.

Before you give a talk or write a book or stand up for a cause or walk into the masjid, before you dare to publicly exist -

You must reassure the patriarchy that you are A Good Muslim Woman.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

The Trifecta of Rape Culture, Sexual Abuse, and the Muslim Community

Editorial Note: TRIGGER WARNING – This article contains explicit stories of sexual assault and trauma. This is part one of a two-part series on rape culture and sexual abuse within Muslim communities. Part one debunks common false statements often given to excuse or ignore sexual abuse and traumaPart two of this series, coming next week, will look at other arguments used to blame victims, and the author will examine them from the Islamic standpoint. Also, the terms “victim” and “survivor” are both used in this piece at the discretion of the person who was relating their story of sexual trauma.
“Islam protects women from rape and sexual assault!” Too many Muslims buy into this line of thinking either out of naivete or ignorance; sometimes clueless and sometimes in denial of the painful realities and tragedies of sexual crime even in the Muslim Ummah.
“Rape culture” is a term that describes “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.  Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.”
Rape culture is not only harmful to women, but men as well. Due to many societal attitudes regarding gender and sexuality, men are also taught to internalize beliefs that contribute to the silencing of sexual assault and rape of boys and men. Ideas such as “men can’t be raped,” “speaking about abuse is weakness,” and so on have all led to the widespread silence surrounding the sexual violence perpetrated against boys and men.
And, contrary to widespread belief, “rape culture” does not solely exist in Western or non-Muslim societies. Unfortunately, many Muslim communities have deeply unhealthy and toxic attitudes regarding sexual violence and the victims thereof.
There are certain phrases in particular that are used to dismiss and belittle the experiences of survivors of sexual crimes. However, none of them reflect the Islamic ethos and attitude regarding such crimes nor do they justify the perpetration of such crimes. As Muslims, we should never think that there is ever an excuse for a person to violate another’s body.
Nonetheless, rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse do exist in the Muslim community, just as it exists in all other faith and race groups. Too many times, Muslims trot out the following series of statements about sexual assault and abuse, which are inherently false and misleading. For every claim, however, there is a much stronger rebuttal – one based on both facts and a deeper understanding of the Islamic perspective.
“If she just wore hijab/niqab, she wouldn’t get harassed or raped …”
This line, often uttered to dismiss cases of rape where the victims did not observe hijab, is one that is not only false, but completely fails to understand the true meaning, role and purpose of hijab.
No doubt, hijab is indeed an obligation in Islam; it is a command from Allah and should be observed by believing women[1]. There are Divine Wisdoms behind its obligation, and in some cases, it can deter a certain type of attention.
However, it is not a force field that physically prevents a rapist from raping his victim. Modest dressing cannot prevent rape or lewd behavior from the abuser. Nor should we ever expect a person whose heart and soul are so corrupted that they would dare to commit such a crime in the first place, to feel deterred merely by some extra layers of fabric. Numerous women have been sexually assaulted and raped while wearing their hijab.
One sister — a convert who wears the hijab and relied upon a small group of other Muslims to be her “community” — shared the following:
“… I thought it was weird for him to sit so close to me, but I didn’t really think anything of it. He’s a “good boy.” Prays five times a day. Ten years my senior and a PhD student at my university. Super intelligent. Calls his mother (who lives overseas) every day despite time zone differences. Meets all the markers of a good person. But I don’t think I’ve ever been alone with him before this.
We were just talking, he paused and pulled me on top of him. Suddenly I was laying on him, and he was holding me against him tightly. I was super freaked out, but I laughed and was like, “[name], stop! What are you doing?” Obviously, I tried to push against him to get off, but he flipped me, so I was pinned underneath him in a matter of seconds, and he was straddling me. He ripped off my hijab, pulled up my shirt and bra and started to bite my breasts. 
I was completely in shock and tried to reason with him to stop. He said something like he’s seen how I look at him (???) and he knows I want him (?????). Completely, absolutely, disgustingly false. 
He held my hands down when I tried to push him off, and I began to fight him with everything I had in me. He pulled down my pants and started to penetrate me with his fingers. By then I was crying, and I kept on telling him over and over to stop, but he said to just let him do it. “If you really don’t like it then why are you so wet?” 
I was terrified and never felt so much like I’ve lost control of my body before. I remember just repeating his name endlessly, as if he would somehow hear his name and wake up and realize what he’s doing. I’ve never been intimate with a man even consensually, so it was beyond overwhelming. Eventually he said, “Relax, it’s not like I’m going to rape you.” And he stopped.
I never figured out what the heck he meant by that. Did he not realize what he just did?!? I put my clothes back on as fast as I could, and I left. I haven’t told anybody. I saw him once on campus by chance, and I felt like I was having a heart attack. For a few weeks after, he kept on texting me and asking how I was and stuff. I never responded. Throughout the entire ordeal and after, I get the feeling that he truly doesn’t think he did something wrong.
This was about three months ago, and none of my friends who were there with me even know. I feel like maybe I should tell the girls at least, so they can watch out for him, but they would never be so stupid to hang out with a man alone in his apartment. I do worry that they would judge me for it. My friends think I’m weird for never hanging out with them whenever I know he’s around, but I don’t know if they’ve put it together. It’s certainly distanced me from them in some regards. I’m a convert and my closest family lives a plane flight away, so these friends are really the only community I have.
I’ve thought about it literally every day. All the time. I’ve prayed and tried to find the same peace in my body as I did before, but it’s so difficult. I find myself wanting to make wudu over and over, and I never really feel pure again.”
“Women should always have a mahram with them!”
The dismissive claim that if women always had a mahram (close male relative – e.g. father, brother, uncle, son – or husband) with them, they wouldn’t experience sexual violence, is a blatantly false one.
First, there is no Islamic requirement for women to always be accompanied by a mahram. The requirement is one solely related to travel, and even then, there are differences of opinion regarding the conditions for this.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, many victims of sexual violence, particularly younger children, are attacked by people who actually are their mahaarim. Consider this: Sexual violence against children and youth is more commonly perpetrated by someone known to the victim (75 percent), usually an acquaintance or a family member.[2]
“I was 8. It was my father’s youngest brother. I didn’t know it was molestation or that it was wrong. After some years, I told my mum about it, she told my dad, and [it] drove them apart. About two years later, my parents got divorced because my mum couldn’t live with that. When I was 20, I told other family members, and my father’s sister said. “What will you gain out of this? You destroy the life of a now-married man? Cause suffering to his family and yours? No one will believe you anyways. You just lack decency.” (female victim)
“She was too seductive.”
The story shared above already demonstrates, “seductiveness” has nothing to do with sexual assault. Many victims of sexual assault are children — both boys and girls.
Statistics Canada reports: “The second most prevalent type of police-reported violence committed against children and youth is sexual assault. In 2008, there were over 13,600 child and youth victims of sexual offences reported to police. Over half (59%) of all victims of sexual assault were children and youth under the age of 18. The rate of sexual assaults against children and youth was 1.5 times higher than the rate for young adults aged 18 to 24 in 2008 (201 per 100,000 children and youth compared to 130 for young adults).”[3]
“I was around 12 years old. I used to go to this Maulana’s [Quran teacher] house for hifz [Quran memorization]. When Maulana was not around, he asked me to read to his son, who was a hafiz [one who has memorized the Quran]. One day this hafiz called me to his room and gave me a story to read. As I was going through the story, he tried to rape me. I screamed and told him to stop. He came to his senses and stopped. Felt like beating him up with a baseball bat. Never told anyone.” (Male victim)
“I don’t know which or whom started first, but I was seven and abused by two different men … a cousin and an “uncle.” Apparently, I was special, as I was allowed into my cousin’s man cave; no one was allowed in there except me. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but I was allowed into a room that even my older brother wasn’t allowed to enter because I was special. It was a touch here and a touch there, until I guess he was comfortable enough to take out his “lollipop” for me to suck on. I was scared of the “lollipop.” I didn’t know what to make of it, but I was special, and that’s why I was given the “lollipop.” I can’t remember whether I sucked on the “lollipop,” but I remember being made to touch it and pet it. It’s funny how your brain works to block things out as you become .” (female survivor)
“This is what happens when our kids are exposed to Western kaafir[nonMuslim/disbeliever] culture.” Or, “Rape only happens to bad girls who are in bad places.”
Rape and sexual assault are just as much of an issue in the Muslim world, – in fact even in the holiest of places. Though many people choose to live in denial, the brutal truth is that unfortunately, women experience sexual harassment and assault even in the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah and in the Masjid al-Haraam itself.
“A man, in an ihram, grabbed my hand and tried to force me close to him whilst I was doing sa’i [running back and forth between Safa and Marwa, one of the rites of Hajj].” (female victim; age 14 at the time.)
“When I was around 11 years old, my parents took me and my siblings for umrah [the lesser pilgrimage]. We performed umrah and were on our way back to Pakistan. I wanted to use the washroom at Jeddah airport. I went there with my little sisters. 
When we went to washroom, it was crowded because everyone was doing wudu [ablutions] to pray. I went to the washroom and my sisters were waiting outside. It took me a long time, so all the older women had left.
Some man came in and told my sisters to leave too and that people weren’t allowed to come in the washroom. They were 4 and 5, so they didn’t know anything and left me there alone. The man kept knocking at the door. I didn’t know it was a man; I thought it was a woman because it was the women’s washroom.  
I opened the door and he came in. I was so shocked and scared. I was trembling with fear; I was so confused, I didn’t even know what was going on. I was molested there, and I was too shocked to shout or scream, but then I came to my senses and started screaming really loudly. Some men came inside the washroom and started banging on the door, so this guy pulled up his pants, opened the door and ran away.
People were trying to run after him. I don’t know what happened after that because my parents came and took me away. I think they handled it, but we never spoke about it, so I don’t know what happened after it.
It was my first time being molested. Before this, I didn’t even know there was such a thing or that this happens to people. My mum told me not to tell my dad that the man touched me, and to just say the other men came before he could touch me – otherwise, my dad would disown me. So that’s what I did. 
I was very scared to go to school after it because we had many male teachers and there were lots of men around. My 11-year-old brain was too terrified to be around men for around a year.  My mum told me not to tell anyone back home about it, and everyone was just quiet. No one said anything else.” (female victim)
These are just some examples of the common sentiments expressed by Muslims with regards to sexual violence. In turn, each and every story quoted herein was submitted to me directly by the survivors of these crimes. These harrowing stories prove just how false the prevalent ideas surrounding sexual violence in the Muslim community are.
It must be emphasized that none of these statements so many Muslims give in regard to sexual abuse are considered to be Islamically valid or acceptable. They are abhorrent; these mentalities are what allow sexual crimes to continue to be perpetrated in our communities, with little to no accountability for the criminals, and with very few resources or support for the victims.
[3] Ibid