Campaigns
Exposed - Intimate Image Abuse
Presenting Exposed, our 2024 Campaign on Intimate Image Abuse. Intimate Image Abuse is when one person discloses or threatens to disclose a photo or film that shows another person in an intimate situation.
Perpetrators use this to control & manipulate women.
For Muslim & BME women, intimate images could include photos of parts of their bodies (such as their legs) or even the hair of Muslim women. However, these do not meet the legal definition for ‘intimate images’. The legal definition must be made inclusive to protect Muslim & BME women.
In November we launched Never Allowed, our campaign for 16 Days of Action against gender-based violence, with Syma Ahmed, BME Development Officer at Glasgow Women’s Library.
The campaign drew on our research on In-Law Abuse. Throughout our research, the recurring phrase “I was Never Allowed” prompted our digital campaign on coercive control and abuse that BME women in Scotland experienced from their in-laws.
Our campaign highlights the need for change around Scottish legislation.
Legislation defines domestic abuse as being perpetrated by a partner or ex-partner only. However, many Muslim & BME women experience domestic abuse from their in-laws. Our Campaign offers a compelling visual narrative to emphasise the urgency of addressing this form of violence within communities.
Navigating Intimacy, In-Laws & the Journey to Healing
From Commitment to Closure is Amina MWRC's healthy relationships and healing workshop series. Planned specifcally to address the unique needs of Muslim & BME women in Scotland, these workshops address an array of important subjects around relationships, that are rarely discussed.
The sessions feature experts on the subjects at hand, all of whom are aware of the distinct needs of Muslim & BME women. Past sessions have included Intimacy Insights, Breaking the Cycle, and In-Law & Order, which drew inspiration from our Never Allowed Campaign and the importance of setting boundaries with extended family for a healthy and happy marriage.
Our next workshop, Untying the Knot, will explore women's rights in Islamic Divorce. Featuring Shaykh Amer Jamil, the session will be held in Glasgow on 8th May.
Hate Crime Awareness Work
Sometimes victims or witnesses of hate crime don’t feel comfortable reporting the incident to the police. They might be more comfortable reporting it to someone they know. Police Scotland works in partnership with a number of organisations and groups, to take reports, known as third party reporting centres.
Amina is a Third Party Reporting centre. Our staff have been trained to recognise hate crimes and help a victim or witness to submit a report to the police.
You should tell the police if you think it happened because of disability, race, religion or sexual orientation discrimination. It may even be a combination of these things. Hate Crime is wrong, it is against the law, and everyone has the right to live safely and without fear. No two individuals are ever the same – embrace individuality and help put an end to Hate crime by reporting it.
Report a hate crime by:
- Calling 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency)
- Going in person to any Police station
- Reporting a Crime to Police Scotland by clicking on this link: https://www.scotland.police.uk/secureforms/c3/
Amina has been involved in Hate Crime work for many years from providing training to responding to policy briefings. If you are interested in receiving training on Hate Crime, please email helpline@mwrc.org.uk.
If you would like Amina to come to your organisation to deliver Hate Crime training to your team, please email info@mwrc.org.uk.
View the Scottish Governments Hate Crime and Public Order Bill (Scotland) Information Note here.
View Amina’s response to the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill here.
Say Her Name is our campaign commemorating the unknown victims of honour-based abuse.
The campaign is for those who have lost their lives under the pretence of a sudden or unknown injury or condition.
Those who no one knew were missing, or had been killed because their perpetrators, families, or members of their community, had covered their tracks.
In 2024, we hosted Tell Her Story, our exhibition in partnership with Glasgow Women's Library. The exhibition was dedicated to remembering BME women who have lost their lives to honour-based violence, and those whose stories are yet to be told.
Nationality and Borders Bill
Amina has been campaigning for the rights of Muslim and BME women which includes speaking out against inhumane policies being proposed by the government. We utilise our social media to raise awareness of issues affecting our client base, including the Nationality and Borders Bill.
Unspoken is our workshop series addressing taboo topics within Muslim and BME communities in an effort to bring to light the issues that are too often swept under the carpet.
By addressing these issues directly, we can highlight their impact on Muslim and BME women, and the change required to make the world an equal place for Muslim and BME women.
This year, we will be tackling the topics of eating disorders, sexual health, divorce and healing. Register for our upcoming events here.
Training
Amina has delivered a range of training packages for various organisations ranging from Hate Crime Train the Trainer training, Intersectionality in Recruitment and Retention to Culturally and Religious Sensitive Bereavement training.
We can offer bespoke packages tailored to suit your organisational needs. If this is something you would like to discuss with a member of staff, please email info@mwrc.org.uk.