Sohaila Abdulali

Of course, this doesn’t justify other people blaming the victim. They have no excuse whatsoever and should all be smacked firmly on the head.

They know that deploying rape brigades is cheap and expeditious: no heavy weaponry, training, or maneuvers. They know that targeting women breaks the backbones, the will, and the cohesion of communities, leaving them vulnerable. Most crucial, they know that the world is blind to women …

“You don’t want to challenge people’s defenses too much,” Sean told me. “If you help them to feel safe, they will open up. Defenses are necessary. They keep people intact. They’re a scaffolding.”