Sexual Abuse in Religious Education Institutions
No, no, I should not write about it. No, no you must write about it. I was torn inside when I thought of writing about it. Why are you showing your dirty linens to the world, especially to those who are waiting for any opportunity to pounce on the community? Why do you want to be critical of your own community? Why not focus on other issues that are more relevant and important?
But then I thought of the scars that are carried by people
who are traumatized by this and I felt an uncontrollable urge to write about it. The
problem I am going to write about it is not on the table for discussion among
Muslims. It is off-limits. It is considered a taboo. People do not talk about
it or do not want to talk about it. But for the sake of those innocent souls
who suffer silently and then carry their wounds to the rest of their life, this
subject must be dealt with, hoping that people in our religious institutions would
address this problem and prepare guidelines that would ensure that such
practices do not take place ever anywhere.
It is about those young and innocent children who suffer
sexual abuse during their early years of education in many religious
institutions throughout the Muslim world. Regardless of the country, where these
schools are located, there are untold stories many young children keep to
themselves throughout their lives about the abuse they suffer in the early
stages of life.
I personally met several such students in the
Indian-Pakistan-Bangladesh sub-continent, in Iran,
in Malaysia and Indonesia and in several places in Africa as
well as in the Middle East who are now young
adults but who are bitter and wounded about what they went through. A teacher,
a senior student or a physically stronger person turned their vulnerability to
his advantage. They were coerced to take care of the sexual urges of such
people. They were forced to do all sorts of acts that would please their
controller. They were afraid to tell others because they were threatened with
dire consequences.
How could a six-year-old kid literally abandoned by his
parents and left at the mercy of people at the religious institutions defend
himself against his attackers when they are the ones who control his future destiny?
There is no need to go into details. The details would hurt.
The wounds are ugly and the stories are horrible. Suffice to say that religious
institutions, by and large, have no policy to deal with this kind of widespread abuse. When someone comes up with accusation authorities either hush
up the matter or force students to be quiet.
While intellectuals and scholars are focused on raising
funds and drawing up a new curriculum, it is important that they address the
issue of sexual abuse of children in a bold manner. I am referring to those in
the age group of 5 and under18 coming from poor and vulnerable families often
abandoned by those who brought them in this world. I am talking about those who
were inducted in the Islamic education system as the families were unable to
afford their livelihood. I am talking about those who are afraid to complain about
anything as it might jeopardize their future..
It is good to say that Islam promotes ethics that
prohibits this kind of abuse. But how should one deal when this abuse takes
place and what measures one must adopt to ensure that they do not recur?
This is an issue that we have ignored and neglected for
ages. No one wants to talk about it. But we must ask the religious scholars and
clergy running these institutions to look into the matter seriously. Each
institution must find its internal mechanism to deal with the problem. But
there must be some overall guidelines for an institution not only to deal with the
perpetrators but to rehabilitate the victim. The scars and the shame that one
carries haunt him throughout life, influencing his behavior and attitude
towards life. And it often leads to an unending chain of abuse.
There are several cases that can be published with the names of
the institutions and individuals, but it would not serve any purpose except
initiating furious allegations with no end in sight. But silence is no more an
option. The Quran talks about the day when all the secrets would be open: “that
day when all things would be tested.” (86:9) That day has arrived.
Before the issue goes out of control and things become
unmanageable, it is better to look into the issue seriously and take appropriate
measures to deal with them openly and honestly keeping in mind the future of the
generations that would one day lead us in religious matters.
"Certainly a bold attempt though far short of the point where you could hit the nail on its head. Sexual abuse in religious institutions is known but not talked about except in whispers. To begin with leading religious institutions should constitute a sort of committee to investigate such complaints. Even before that there needs to be a cultural atmosphere where victims can come forward without fear and with the expectation of justice. And even before that there is need to admit that this problem exists and needs to be addressed."
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