Safety
tips for Muslim women
Reports of Muslim women being yelled at, threatened, having their Hijabs pulled off and having guns pointed at them have
surfaced. It is necessary that the whole community rallies to defend Muslim
women. But sisters also have to take personal precautions when they go outside.
Like it or not, they will be targets.
Here
are some safety tips for sisters:
1. Always
be aware of your surroundings
This applies whether you are
traveling alone or in groups. Don’t just focus inwardly on your thoughts if you
are alone, or your friends if you are together. Keep one eye out for your
environment, looking out for suspicious characters, possible danger, etc.
Also, don’t assume that because your area has been “safe” thus far, that it
will continue to be so.
2. Travel
in groups
“There is safety in numbers” is not just a cliché. It’s true. Make a
point of traveling together with other sisters, whether it’s on public
transportation, on campus, in cars, etc.
3.
Change the route you normally travel by
If you’ve taken the same bus,
train or highway to get to work or school, change your route. Even if it
takes you a little longer, your safety is more important. By changing your
route, you can avert possible attacks or harassment from those who know your
schedule, method and route of travel well. Please note though that you should
avoid short cuts that take you through unfamiliar or unsafe areas.
4.
Look confident
Walk with a straight posture and your arms swinging by your sides.
Avoid slouching or walking like a victim. This makes you an easy target for
attackers.
5.
When riding by public transportation choose the right seat
If you are riding by bus or train, do not sit on the window seat as
you may be “blocked in” by
a potential assailant. Always select the seat next to the aisle so that you can
quickly leave if necessary.
If you are taking public transportation alone after peak hours, sit as close to the driver as possible and/or
choose the section of the bus/train that is most crowded. Try to get a seat
near the exit as well.
6.
If you are driving alone
Don’t think that if you are in a car, you’re safe. Windows should be up and doors
locked even when driving to avoid unwanted passengers at intersections. When
you are walking to your car, always have your keys ready, so that you can
quickly get into your car.
But don’t just get in right away. Always check your car before
entering, especially the back, for any intruders.
7.
Never leave your car door unlocked
Even if it means for one minute to drop something off in the mailbox
that’s a few feet away. Attackers have been known to lie in wait for such an
opportunity.
8.
Be careful in parking lots
Always be alert in parking lots, especially when it’s dark. Ask someone to escort you to your
car. Between cars and inside cars, it’s easy for someone to hide and
wait until an unalert person comes along.
9.
If you are traveling by taxi
Always check the identification of the driver (usually
located near the visor) and ensure that it matches the driver. Once inside,
don’t sit behind the driver as it may be easy for the driver to lock the rear
passenger door. Always choose the adjacent seat.
In addition, avoid flagging taxis. Always order
taxis so the driver can be traced if something happens.
10.
Don’t use the Walkman
If you’re used to listening to
your Walkman while outside, drop this habit, especially in isolated areas.
With your Walkman on, you cannot hear the approach of a possible attacker.
11.
Note “safe houses” along your route
Mentally note houses at intervals on each route you take that can be
used as “safe
houses” if you are attacked, such as shops or houses that you know to be
occupied by a friend or acquaintance.
12.
When you make a call from a phone booth
After
dialing the number, you wish to call always turn around so that you have your
back to the phone and may see who or what is coming your way. You will then
be able to tell the person to whom you are speaking that you may be in trouble
and you may be able to use the weight of the phone as a weapon. The door of a
telephone box could be used to wedge in the limbs of the attacker.
13.
Do not open the door of your home without checking
DO NOT open the door to your home without first
checking from a window, peephole or by asking and verifying who it is.
Instruct children to do the same.
14.
Report any suspicious activity around your home
If you see people loitering on the streets near your house, call the
police on a non-emergency
number and report it.
15.
Invest in a cell phone
This is an invaluable safety device. Keep it with
you at all times and keep emergency numbers on it. Also, keep it next to your
bed before you go to bed at night. Cell phones were first popularized by women
as a security device, business people came later.
16.
Parking tips
Avoid parking in areas that are not well lit. Where possible,
park close to a school or work entrance or in a parking garage that has an
attendant.
If you see a suspicious person approaching or hanging around near
your parked car, turn around and go back to an area
where there are other people. Try to get an escort to your car through
the campus or job security or local police.
17.
Tell others about your whereabouts
Parents, spouses and friends should know where you are
going and when you will be back, so that your absence will be noticed.
Arrange a call-in system with a friend if you live alone, whereby you call when you arrive home.
18.
Trust your instincts
If you are walking somewhere and feel strange or
scared, don’t ignore this feeling. Take extra precautions by walking a
little faster to get to a more populated or well-lit area or change the route
you’ve been driving on.
19.
If you think you are being followed, change your route and
activity.
You can cross the street,
change directions, or enter a populated building or store. Do whatever is
necessary to avoid being alone with the person who is following you. Inform a
police officer or security official about the
follower.
20.
Attract attention if you are in a dangerous situation.
Get others to pay attention to
what’s happening to you if you are under attack or being harassed. You can alert
others by honking a car horn or loudly describing what is happening.
21.
NEVER admit that you are alone
If someone calls your home and
asks if you are alone, NEVER admit it. Ask who the caller is. If they refuse
to identify themselves, calmly hang-up. Keep the radio on in the house so that
callers will get the impression that others are in the home too. Instruct
children to do the same when they pick up the phone.
22.
Obscene phone calls
If you
receive an obscene call or a crank call, do not talk to the caller. Hang up if the
caller doesn’t say anything, or as soon as s/he shouts obscenities. Hang up the
phone calmly and do not slam it down. Note down the date and time of the calls.
If they are persistent, inform local police.
23.
If you are a student
Avoid studying in isolated
classrooms in parts of the college campus that are not regularly patrolled by
the school’s security officers.
24.
In large buildings take the elevator, not the stairwell
Stairwells are usually quiet and dark.
Most people take the elevator. But if someone creepy gets on, don’t hesitate to
get off at the same time. Or, if someone is already on the elevator who you
feel strange about, do not get on and wait for the next elevator.
By Samana Siddiqui
