by Elizabeth Turnbull
(SOUTH SEATTLE EMERALD) The Muslimah’s Against Abuse Center (MAAC) opened in South Seattle in 2020 to help women who face gender-based violence. Organizers created the nonprofit specifically to help fellow Muslim Women of Color and to provide healing circles, support groups, and other resources to support women in various ways.
“There is so much stigma around abuse within East African communities,” said Rahma Rashid, the founder of MAAC. “Often, these young women are being shamed by their religious leaders, family, and community members … We are providing a resource that doesn’t exist within our communities and that no one on the outside is providing.”
Rashid, originally from Somalia, founded the nonprofit after her own experience with abuse, which opened her eyes to the needs of the women around her and in her community.