Breaking Silence

Filmmaker Nadya Ali’s documentary gives voice to Muslim women who have experienced sexual assault, including Sarah (by a friend's uncle) when she was eight; Navila (by a cousin) when she was 12 or 13, and Zahra (by five young men) at the age of 15 (her family was visiting South Asia at the time). Once Sarah learned about sexual assault in school, she realized it was what had happened to her and she told a guidance counselor, who made her tell her mother, although neither woman offered much in the way of support. Both advised her to get over it and move on, but the burden didn't start to lift until she told a therapist. For similar reasons, Navila didn't tell her story to anyone for 16 years. "We don't talk about sex in a Muslim Desi household," she explains. Once she spoke up, her mother was sympathetic, but reasoned that something that doesn't kill you makes you stronger. When she was assaulted while pursuing her master's degree, she didn't hesitate to report the incident, but the authorities proved to be more judgmental than helpful. For Zahra, her multi-assailant ordeal represented her first sexual experience, which made it even harder to talk about. Instead, Zahra had nightmares, questioned her faith, and lashed out at family members, but the situation improved after she shared her story with a sympathetic female high school teacher. Although Ali wisely keeps the focus on her subjects, she also incorporates the perspective of Imam Khalid Latif, executive director of the Islamic Center at New York University, who takes issue with men who cite the Quran in defense of sexual assault. For all three women, finding acceptance from their families and mentoring other young women has helped with their healing process. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)