Domestic abuse, cheating: New Sharjah family support initiative gets 30 calls in 2 weeks

Just a day after launching the family support initiative at the Indian Association Sharjah (IAS) early this month, members received a distress call from Buhaira Police Station. The police informed the IAS that they had received an email from a woman on the verge of taking her own life.

“It was around 8pm, and we had all logged out and gone home. But this was an important case to be solved,” said Yousuf Sagheer, managing committee member at IAS. “We immediately gathered at the association office and prepared to receive her.”

Marriage in crisis

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When the woman arrived, counsellors held one-on-one sessions with her to understand the situation. She alleged that her husband was having an extramarital affair and described herself as feeling emotionally abandoned. Their only child was staying in India.

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“We also called the husband in and spoke to him separately,” said Sagheer. “He told us that his wife had become insecure and possessive over the years. They had been married for 23 years, but he wanted a divorce. She was terrified he would go through with it.”

The counsellors spent hours mediating between the two. Eventually, they convinced both sides to have open conversations and to involve their son in the dialogue. “Today, they are not fully healed, but they are doing great. Our counsellors are constantly in touch with them. It’s still a work in progress,” said Sagheer.

Nissar Thalangara, president of IAS, said the case reflected why R.I.S.E. (Reach, Inspire, Support, Empower) was launched in the first place. “We are happy to avert a tragedy. Now, at least, there is hope and an ongoing effort to keep the family together,” he said.

Clash of egos

In another case, a husband and wife approached the association with constant arguments over decision-making at home. “It wasn’t about money or infidelity, it was ego,” said Sagheer. “The husband felt his wife challenged his authority in front of relatives and friends and the wife felt he dismissed her opinions about family matters.”

The couple’s disagreements escalated to the point where they stopped speaking for weeks. “We sat them down, one by one, and made them realise that ego is a silent destroyer in relationships,” said Sagheer. “After three sessions, they agreed to start small sharing meals together again, going for evening walks.”

Thalangara mentioned that such cases, are equally damaging if left unaddressed. “A marriage can break down not just because of abuse or affairs, but also because of refusing to compromise,” he said.

Since its launch on August 2, R.I.S.E. has already registered close to 30 cases in less than two weeks. The majority are related to marital disputes and finance, but others involve job-related conflicts, child custody battles, and domestic abuse.

“We have 25 trained counsellors, including those from the two schools we manage, with over 16,000 students,” said Thalangara. “On Saturdays, more than eight counsellors are present on site. Every session is one-on-one and completely confidential.”

Why confidentiality matters

“People share very private details with us, financial troubles, personal habits, intimate concerns,” said Thalangara. “If they don’t trust us to keep it private, they won’t come forward. That’s why we stress confidentiality in every case.”

The members and the counsellors at the association said that trust is the foundation of their work. “Once they know their problems will not be discussed outside the counselling room, they open up. That’s when real solutions can begin,” said one of the counsellors.

Collaboration with authorities

IAS works closely with the Indian Consulate in Dubai and the Sharjah Police’s Community Preventive and Protection Department. Cases requiring legal or official intervention, such as child passport disputes or unresolved domestic violence, are referred to the appropriate bodies.

“The police have asked us to take on domestic abuse and related cases and direct them to the right authorities,” said Thalangara. “We also have a legal department to advise on employment disputes or contractual issues.”

‘Seek our help’

Thalangara said the encouraging response so far proves the need for such a platform in the community. “We are happy with the way people are trusting us. The fact that they are coming forward means they want to live a happier life,” he said.

“Sometimes, just having someone to listen is all a person needs to take the first step toward resolution. We may not solve every problem overnight, but we can at least give them relief and a plan to move forward,” added Thalangara.

For now, the association plans to continue the weekly Saturday sessions, but if needed in the future, they are ready to add more days. “Every case is different, some require just one meeting, others take months. But what matters is that we are here, ready to listen and ready to act.”

• Sharjah

SM Ayaz Zakir

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ayaz@khaleejtimes.com

SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.