Madinah India.

In societies through history and across the world, women have often been the victims of oppression and subjugation to extreme ideals and cultural expectations. As a result, domestic violence and tyranny have resulted from digression from these standards and limitations.

These issues of female subjugation are incongruently severe in areas of the world where social infrastructure is too weak to accommodate the protection of these females. Furthermore, any existing support networks can often be discriminatory towards certain groups and faiths.

In India at the moment the new Muslim convert sisters go through extreme dangers and difficulties. They have to hide in fear and cannot practice or proclaim their faith. Many of them hide for years and practice their deen in horrible conditions. We had the inspiration of this project when a Sister asked a question in an AlKauthar class about whether it’s permissible to keep washrooms/toilets clean so that Salah/Prayers can be performed inside of them. The sister that posed this question had many other friends who were in the same predicament and some of them had been doing this for up to 7 years since they entered the fold of Islam. What fear they must feel, what hopelessness they must have as none of the people around them can help them. As one sister mentioned “We wouldn’t dare go to the Masjid for fear that someone who knows us may see us”.

The aim of the Women’s Shelter project, begun in October 2010, is to create a safe refuge for women who face persecution and difficult circumstances upon making choices in life that do not correspond with family and cultural expectations and norms. We wish to provide an accessible and independent support network for women who experience extreme social and economic hardship and difficulty under such circumstances. The centre is a women’s hostel akin to a shelter in the western context. The hostel is housed on a 1500 sq ft premise in the Mumbai suburbs and can accommodate up to 20 women.

An experienced social worker stays at the premises and mentors these women, as well as taking care of their lodging, boarding and educational needs. The centre also function as a central point for all those who seek help and assistance. Security details are in place to provide safety to the shelter at all times. In later phases, expansion will be undertaken to increase the scope of the program and to setup similar establishments in other cities and regions around the world.

Several sisters have now safely settled down back in society either through marriage or through their families accepting them with their new identity.

Expansion is required to increase the scope of the program and to setup similar establishments in other cities and regions around the world.

Please donate generously so that we can build many more such shelters and support the cost of running this centre annually. We need approximately $500,000 to maintain and expand this program.

We need your continuous help and support to make this project sustainable and to create many such centers across the world! Please donate generously so that Mercy Mission can continue to help people worldwide.

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