TW: South Asian community grapples with Sania Khan's death
TW: Domestic violence
On July 18 TikToker and 29-year-old photographer Sania Khan was killed by her 36-year-old ex-husband Raheel Ahmad in Chicago in a murder-suicide. Domestic violence is something that’s taboo in the South Asian culture to discuss, although it’s rampant. Women are encouraged not to talk about it if it happens due to fear of stigma and oftentimes harassment, and further abuse.
Khan often posted about her journey through divorce, a year after the marriage. Ahmad killed Khan in her apartment. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), “the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.”
Khan’s story poses a question about how to tell the signs of domestic violence, and what to do about it if you’re someone stuck in a home, considering leaving a home with violence.
NCADV reports that 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, 10 million people. One out of four women and 1:9 men are abused.
According to the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, out of 160 U.S. domestic violence cases of Asian families based on newspaper articles from 2000-2005, 19 percent of victims were South Asians. The findings also, “South Asian women were significantly more likely to be advised by family members ‘to stay in the marriage’ than other groups of women.
You may be wondering, what can I do about this? What conversations should I be having with my loved ones to be aware of domestic violence? How can I educate myself about domestic violence? How can I prevent domestic violence in my home, family, friends or community?
It’s time to educate women about supporting each other, believing in each other to break the stigma about getting out of domestic violent homes, and teach/encourage men to find healthier ways to manage their anger (and vice versa).
Here are some articles about DV:
Coping With Domestic Violence & What You Can Do To Help Victims: Part I
Surviving Domestic Violence & A Path To Healing: Part II
Growing Up with Domestic Abuse – Powerful Stories From Women Impacted as Children
Resources:
If you’re facing domestic violence, call National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233), or text “START” to 88788
Muslim Family Services transitional housing
Michigan State Resources (womenslaw.org)
First Step Domestic & Sexual Violence Services
At Saa Nasta, wishing you safety, security and reflection.