Abused women afraid to go to shelter because a mosque is next door

The Auckland City Council's year long obstruction to moving a woman's shelter to a safer location is unconscionable. Violence against women is a universal problem, but Muslim women have a special concern in that beating of wives is sanctioned by the Qur'an and is a integral part of Islam. It's probable that a mosque was built next to a battered woman's shelter with the purpose of intimidating Muslim women from using the shelter. Auckland has a responsibility to protect women of all faiths from domestic and religious inspired violence.

Perhaps a polite e-mail to the Auckland City Council pointing out the dilemma of Muslim women visiting the shelter will move the council to approve a new and safer site as soon as possible.

Here is the link to the councils e-mail page.

E-MAIL CONTACT PAGE

Here is their snail mail address:

Auckland City Council
Private Bag 92 516
Wellesley St
Auckland 1141

FROM DHIMMIWATCH:

Abused women afraid to go to shelter because a mosque is next door

The Qur'an sanctions the beating of disobedient women (4:34). In one New Zealand town, those who want to escape this abuse are afraid to do so because a mosque is next door to the shelter, and they could be recognized. Don't these battered Muslim women know that Islam teaches peace and tolerance?

"Women refuse refuge because of nearby mosque,"

by Esther Harward for the Sunday Star Times,
February 1 (thanks to Twostellas):

Muslim women are staying away from a domesitc [sic] violence crisis centre since a mosque opened next door.

The Auckland Shakti Asian Women's Centre in Onehunga helps women escape violent domestic situations but women are too scared to go because they may be recognised by their husbands or relatives attending the mosque.
The centre has an alternative premises but cannot move in because Auckland City Council has held back planning permission for more than a year.
Meanwhile, Housing New Zealand Corporation is paying $310 a week $4030 so far for security guards to keep vandals away from the empty building that the women could move into.

Centre spokesperson Shila Nair said victims were "really afraid" to go to the centre in Church St, Onehunga in case they were recognised by men worshipping at the Onehunga Islamic Mosque, which is over a boundary fence.
Women who visited the centre usually did so without telling their husbands, she said. "If their husbands, in-laws or any other family members or friends were to know that they have visited Shakti, life for them would be even more difficult. We have had instances of women who visited our Women's Centre later accessing our refuge."

Most were from Middle Eastern, Africa and Asian countries that don't legislate against domestic violence. Staff tell them what their rights are under New Zealand law....