Systems often fail domestic survivors who are from religious communities, and worldwide, Muslim survivors can face racism from outside their community as well as intense pressure to conform to community norms around male entitlement and family honor.  

In this episode, Ruth and David interview Shana Begum, a domestic violence education coach who is a survivor of not one but two attempted honor-based killings and two forced marriages. Shana speaks about:

• Her experience with being groomed for coercive control and domestic violence in her South Asian community.
• How addressing the violence in her community was resisted because of fear of further marginalization
• How adherence to religious principles is manipulated to maintain power and control
• Her journey from being a victim to being an empowered survivor and professional educator 

Central to her story is the notion that partnering with communities that are self-protective because of cultural or religious beliefs or marginalization requires specific skills and understanding. Shana talks about how religion and culture played a role not only in her initial abuse but in her isolation via communal pressure and collusion with her perpetrators. She speaks about how certain closed communities create a pressure cooker of abuse by becoming "communal abusers," which makes it very difficult for victims to report abuse and seek assistance. 

Ruth and Shana talk about how to avoid attacking a culture or religion when breaking down coercive control and violence in order to assist survivors in those communities. David and Shana talk about professional curiosity in partnering with survivors who wish to be connected to their community, family, and culture. Shana speaks about the dangers of honor-based violence and the need for systems to educate themselves about cultural challenges in assisting survivors. 

Shana is a professional educator in the UK for both systems and individuals and can be found at https://www.sthelensbestme.com/meet-the-team

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