• 01
  • March
    2011

Nadia K. is one of the 79,000 Afghan people living in New York who, according to the New York Times, represent 11 percent of those of Afghan descent living in the U.S. And, as an Afghan woman, she's familiar with domestic violence. As the Times reports, Nadia said, "I can't even remember how many times I got black eyes." But she also goes on to say: "I had no other choice but to live with him."

Domestic violence is by no means exclusive to Afghan families. But it is prevalent in the often male-dominated Afghan culture - and Nadia's statement that she had no other choice but to live with her abusive spouse highlights the fact that resolving domestic violence is an extremely complex problem.

Situations that give rise to orders of protection are complex for any family. First, though friends and other family members may pressure an abused spouse or partner to get a divorce or separate, the abused spouse or partner may not be ready - emotionally, financially, physically - to make that decision.

Second, domestic violence is much more difficult when children are involved. Divorce and separation raise issues of child custody and visitation. More important, there is the ongoing need to ensure that children are safe and cared for. The abused spouse or partner may feel like maintaining the status quo, and putting up with the abuse, all things considered.

But you need to seek help immediately if you're involved in an abusive relationship, through both shelters and orders of protection from the courts. Or, if you've been served with an order of protection and you face being kicked out of your home in a family law dispute, you should seek legal counsel to defend yourself and your rights.

We have experience representing both the abused and the accused, and in cases of domestic violence - as in all family law cases - we do all we can to solve your problem and make your life easier.

Source: Abuse Often Follows Afghans to America