World

Actions

Muslim Women Are Speaking Out About Abuse With #MosqueMeToo

Muslim women are speaking out about sexual abuse they experienced during the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Posted at 8:56 AM, Feb 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-26 08:56:13-05

Muslim women are speaking out about sexual abuse they experienced during the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Using the hashtag #MosqueMeToo, many women have started sharing their stories of assault while on the hajj.

The pilgrimage to Mecca is the fifth pillar of Islam, and all Muslims must make the trip at least once as long as they can afford it and are healthy enough to go.

The #MosqueMeToo movement seems to have started when one Pakistani woman wrote on Facebook about being sexually harassed at Islam's holy site in Mecca.

Many Muslim women shared her post and responded with their own stories. And feminist author Mona Eltahawy says she started the hashtag to support her.

She wrote in an opinion piece published earlier this month, "It was heartening to see other Muslim women speak out and say 'Me too' about something so taboo."

An estimated 2 million people take part in the hajj every year.