The Quest of a Curious Muslim — Page 126

I HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED. WHAT DO I DO? 126 No one deserves sexual abuse and it is a crime. If you wish, the hospital can collect evidence of the assault using a “rape kit," in case you want to talk to the police. It is up to you, if you would like to press charges or not. It is never the victim’s fault, and no one has the right to make someone do something that they don’t want to. It can happen to anyone, at any age and any time. Any reaction you experience is normal and there is no right or wrong way to react to it. The important thing is for you to begin the process of healing and recovery. If the person abusing you is still around and you are still in danger of being abused, the first step is to file criminal charges with the police so that you can get out of the dangerous situation. The second step is to find someone you trust, preferably a safe adult. This can be your parent, murabbi, or teacher. Start by taking your time to talk about what has happened, at your own pace. This can be a very hard subject to open up about. These two steps are the hardest and take an enormous amount of courage. After taking these initial steps, you can then begin your journey towards healing. You can start