Living Under Police Protection: Advocates for Muslim Women Face Constant Danger

The legal system is often helpless, when it comes to intervention on cultural or family differences, such as assisting women who refuse to enter arranged marriages. Or the police help arrives too late. Muslim women who want to shed cultural restrictions endure taunts, brutal attacks and even death. Intimidation is so intense that some lawyers refuse to assist Muslim women in family disputes. The conflicts come to a head in nations like Germany, where legal groups stand ready to assist women with cultural transition. With extremists intent on imposing their will on individuals and society – lawyers, journalists and social workers question if protection is even possible for those who speak out in support of women’s rights. – YaleGlobal