Male perpetrators and honour violence among the Muslim community became the focus of the 16-day gender-based violence campaign by Tower Hamlets council

The campaign, which culminated on December 10, the UN Human Rights Day, tried to raise awareness about domestic abuse and “unhealthy” relationships.

Keith Stanger, head of safer neighbourhood operations, told Eastlondonlines the council was looking to “promote awareness” about gender-based violence amongst other men “in their workplaces and amongst friends”.

Tower Hamlets has the second-highest rate of domestic abuse offences in London. It also has one of the highest rates of “honour”- based violence, including forced marriage. The borough has the largest Bangladeshi and Muslim population in England.

Tina Ciccotto, a senior independent domestic violence advisor in Tower Hamlets spoke about “honour”- based violence with the charity Safe Lives: “It [“honour”-based violence] is often linked to family members… who mistakenly believe someone has brought shame to their family or community by doing something that is not in keeping with the traditional beliefs.”

“There are many factors we have come across… which are viewed as dishonourable… defying parental authority; ‘westernised’ dress; behaviour and attitude;  pre-marital sex or extra-marital affairs.”

The council worked closely with mosques and faith organisations during the campaign, including four events at the East London Mosque and initiatives with all-boy, Islamic faith schools like Mazahirul Uloom Stepney. 

The headteacher of MUL, Khalil Goddard told Eastlondonlines: “People have some bizarre ideas about our faith.” When it comes to teaching his male students about gender-based violence he says their religion “doesn’t change anything”.

“Some people will try and use scripture to justify a certain level of control and it is always out of context.”

Goddard did not “want to speculate” as to why Tower Hamlets has such high levels of gender-based violence, but he mentioned how “economic reasons” also play a part; Tower Hamlets has the highest level of child poverty in England and the highest level of “older people” who live in low-income households.

Despite being an all-boys school, Goddard led a long initiative in MUL to help “nip” gender-based violence “in the bud”. 

He said that talks by a rape crisis centre led to a shocked reaction from students: “Students came up to me and said ‘gosh I never knew it was so bad or so prevalent’ and that’s good, we want them to spread the word… and let them understand our responsibilities, first of all as men and then as Muslims.”

Specifically, Goddard wanted his male students to reflect on what a “healthy relationship” looks like and prevent relationships where one partner “controls the finances”.

“Some of the women in our community are not capable of financially supporting themselves… that can be turned into a manipulative relationship.”

The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Luftur Rahman, said: “Together we can make a difference… I particularly want to appeal to men as we can make a huge difference by talking about this issue, being vigilant and calling it out if we see it.”