New St. John's shelter aims to help Muslim women fleeing abuse

A new transitional housing shelter in St. John's seeks to fill a gap in the city's mainstream shelter system.

Sakeenah provides shelter for Muslim women and their families who are escaping abuse or homelessness.

Hafsa Pathan, Sakeenah Canada's chief operating officer, says the shelter will allow women to practise daily prayers, observe Ramadan and enjoy halal food. It will also provide services in multiple languages to overcome the language barrier that many Muslim women face in Canada.

"They should feel safe, they should feel comfortable and welcome wherever they go, and they should be able to practice their religion freely," said Pathan. 

Pathan says when a woman reaches out for support, they are given not only shelter and basic necessities but also other support, including a caseworker and a therapist.

Sakeenah Canada was founded after CEO Zena Chaudhry heard stories of women going to mainstream shelters and experiencing violence and Islamophobia.

The organization has eight other locations across Canada and had been searching for a new location. After receiving several remote casework calls from St. John's, they decided that there was a need in the province, which has a growing Muslim community.

"It's bittersweet when we have to open up a new location," said Pathan. "But unfortunately the increase in gender-based violence is quite devastating, and so unfortunately our needs continue to grow." 

According to provincial government statistics, one in two women over the age of 15 in Newfoundland and Labrador will experience at least one incident of sexual or physical violence in their lifetime.

In March, a Muslim woman in St. John's was killed, leaving behind five children. Her husband has been charged with murder.

The team at Sakeenah plans to reach out to local organizations to spread awareness of their services. 

"We are more than willing to help, and we're always there," said Pathan. 

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