South Asian community opens up about pressing issues

By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com

The first-ever South Asian Advisory Group Town Hall was a night of promoting unity and tackling critical issues impacting the South Asian community on Long Island, such as domestic violence, hate crimes and discrimination.

In partnership with the Muslim Entrepreneur Association, New York Grows Together and the Khalsa Community Patrol, Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages hosted a public forum on March 2 at the Elmont Memorial Library with the goal of sparking a dialogue about the needs of South Asian people. Attendees also learned about economic opportunities, as well as helpful federal and local resources at their disposal.

Abdul Rahman, co-host of the town hall, founder of the Muslim Entrepreneur Association and director of New York Grows Together, said the purpose of the town hall was to allow attendees to speak openly about matters they believe need to be addressed.

“These things we usually sweep under the rug,” Rahman said. “We don’t talk about domestic violence, we don’t talk about mental health issues — until it becomes a problem. That’s when we talk about it, but we have to talk about prevention.”

Dozens of speakers of various ethnic backgrounds — Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, IndoCaribbean and others — stepped up to the microphone to share their personal experiences and concerns.

Nafiah Ikram, 23, of Elmont was assaulted on the evening of March 17, 2021 in her driveway when she and her mother returned to their home after shopping. Once her mother was inside the house, an unidentified man came up from behind Ikram and threw acid in her face. To this day, she suffers from both physical and emotional pain from the incident, she said.

According to the Acid Survivors Foundation, a vast majority of acid attacks are committed against women between the ages of 13 and 35, with 99 percent of the attackers being men. The Acid Survivors Trust International organization said 1,500 acid attacks occur annually and

80 percent target women, with 60 percent going unreported.

Ikram said acid is easily accessible and affordable, and she wants to push for a ban on over-the-counter and online sales of these harmful chemicals.

“I really want to try to use my experience to help other people in any way, shape or form,”

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