Clergy Sexual Abuse within Hamas

Over the years we have heard repeated accounts of Muslim clerics within ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas sanctioning their followers to rape and torture women, children and men as a tool of terrorizing the individuals they were targeting.  This was done to show power and control over their victims.

Contrary to false beliefs, rape has never been about sex — it has always been about power and control — which is the hallmark of religious terrorist groups from all faiths.

These same Muslim clerics who are connected to Hamas, Hezbolla, and ISIS who have sanctioned rape — have also encouraged all forms of violence against those they are targeting.  This includes cutting off fingers and limbs, and beheading their adult and child victims.  Besides mutilating people, Hamas also filmed themselves baking infants alive in ovens, and also raping corpses.

Over the last several weeks I’ve reached out to several organizations and individuals who specialize in the clergy sexual abuse field to discuss the issues.  As of today no calls, texts or emails have been returned.

One of the things I don’t understand is why groups such as SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest), haven’t issued a statement condemning Hamas, or shown support of those who have been raped, kidnapped and murdered by Hamas who are (or were) Catholic.  The same can be said true of such groups as Road to Recovery, FaithTrust Institute, HelpingSurvivors, or ChildUSA.  

World renown experts in the field of clergy sexual abuse have also been silent, not showing support of those rape and murdered on October 7, 2023 in Israel.  The list of those contacted include:  Robert Hoatson, Christa Brown, David Clohessy, Attorney Jeff Anderson, and Attorney Marcie Hamilton.  

Some say the silence from individuals and organizations is due to antisemitism, while others say they fear retaliation— or are to busy to be concerned with those who were raped, tortured and murdered by Hamas on October 7th in Israel.

My hope is with enough political pressure these groups and individuals will do the right thing and open their arms to those who need support.