Cape Town - After a determined yet unsuccessful attempt at preventing an internationally acclaimed Qur’anic reciter from visiting, two woman have taken it upon themselves to respond to the apathy displayed by religious and community leaders towards sexual violence.
Days prior to the start of the holy month of Ramadaan, a small yet unrelenting group of individuals spoke out on a visit by US-based reciter Fatih Seferagic, 26, to Cape Town.
At the time, allegations of sexual assault and other abuses were made against Seferagic, which were being investigated by Facing Abuse in Community Environments (FACE).
People Eradicating Abuse in Community Environments (PEACE), a sister organisation to FACE, was born out of the apathy and lack of urgency by religious and community leaders in dealing with sexual assault, especially when the perpetrator is a well-known and even religious figure.
FACE released its 13-month investigation report citing substantiated abuses perpetrated by Seferagic, including drug-facilitated sexual assault, rape, physical abuse, spiritual abuse among other things.
PEACE founder and executive director Lameesah Soeker said the organisation had been formed to address the leadership accountability gap in the province.
“Two years ago I started coaching women recovering from abusive relationships. I was astonished to find that most of them were in abusive relationships with a religious leader, community leader or teacher.
“I also found that many would not report these well-known people, as their claims were either dismissed and they feared being victimised all over again, allowing the perpetrators to move on to other vulnerable individuals.”
Soeker reached out to FACE, culminating in the sister organisation’s establishment in Cape Town.
“We will be doing victim support, investigative reporting, trauma counselling, education and empowerment for victims of abuse. We also want to educate the community on how to deal with these matters, and to avoid future abuse,” said Soeker.
PEACE co-founder and director Sumaya Adams said the organisation hopes to provide a comprehensive support system and safe space for survivors of sexually violent crimes within religious and other community spaces.
“Survivors not only have to deal with the trauma of what had happened to them, but they are also subjected to further victimisation, shame, bullying and abuse under the guise of religion.
“Reporting religious leaders for abuse and misconduct is so much more difficult and traumatic, especially when these leaders have huge followings and are well-liked within the community,” said Adams.
For more information, visit www.achievingpeace.org.za. To view the full investigative report, visit https://www.facetogether.org/investigations/fatih-seferagic
