Join & Connect

Our first storyteller on Wednesday night was Sadja Mughal OBE. Sadja works for the JAN Trust, a charity tackling issues concerning women in marginalise communities. She spoke to us about her work and the train journey that changed her life forever.

‘July 7th 2005 was a normal workday. I was 22, working in the City, and every single day from the day I graduated to the day previous I took the underground to work, always sitting in the first carriage of a Piccadilly Line train. But because I was running late that day I didn’t get into that first carriage. Had I, I wouldn’t be standing here.

Everyone in that carriage died when Germaine Lindsay detonated a bomb killing himself and 26 others. The explosion I heard 10 seconds into my journey is the biggest I’ll ever hear. The train shook. The lights went out. I fell. I thought we’d hit something. Derailed. The emergency lights came on and thick black smoke filled the carriage. I froze. People screamed. People banged on the glass. People were hurt. I thought we’d die when the next train left Kings Cross and hit us. It would cause a fireball that would consume both trains. We’d burn to death. 7^th July 2005 was to be my last. I was going to die. I thought of my family. I hadn’t said goodbye. My siblings. My partner. I hadn’t got married. Or had children. Travelled the world. Frozen to the spot. Panicking. I felt a noose tighten around my heart. 40 minutes passed, until I heard that male voice, ‘It’s the police, we’re coming to get you’. I was overcome with relief.

The noose started to loosen.

I got through my front door at 2.30pm, unable to contact loved ones as the mobile networks were down, having walked home as public transport was cancelled. I slammed the door behind me. Locked it. Drew the curtains. Dark and silent was my home as I curled up on the sofa and broke down. That I had survived a bombing, in London, was a shock. But hearing it was carried out in the name of Islam, was incomprehensible.

Being Muslim I know clearly to take one innocent life is equal to have taken the whole of humanity. I knew the bombers were manipulated, as true Islam would not lead to such an atrocity. Who manipulated the bombers with incorrect ideology? What could have been done to prevent 7/7? Where were the mums who would not have wanted to see their children commit suicide and take innocent lives with them?  

Something had to be done and my life would change. I quit the City to work for the charity, JAN Trust. The charity works with women from marginalised communities, providing a safe haven centre, raising awareness and tackling issues such as violence against women, counter terrorism and women’s rights. What better place to start than with those who want to protect their families. The mothers!

Do you know that 93% of Muslim mothers do not know how to switch on a computer? That 92% of them do not know what radicalisation is – let alone online radicalisation?

Until 2009 I didn’t either. Through the JAN Trust I developed the Web Guardians, the world’s only programme working with Muslim mums to tackle online radicalisation. I equip mums with the counter narratives to channel their child’s grievances in a positive way. I show them the videos on social media predominantly used by extremists. And when I show them, I can’t describe their shock. They just don’t realise. I work with schools. I work with at risk individuals and those who have been radicalised. One young girl told me I gave her hope of a positive future. She is no longer on the path to extremism.’

Sadly, the Jan Trust is facing closer due to lack of funding. This is what Sadja had to say about the charity’s future and the reason behind her choice of Dot.

‘Tonight I am a yellow Dot, as I need your help. Due to a lack of funding the JAN Trust faces closer in April. Young people will remain at risk, women suffering violence, isolation and depression will suffer alone. Muslim mums will be marginalised, helpless against the radicalisation of their children. These young children will slip through the net. On July 7^th we lost 52 innocent lives. This cannot happen again. As a yellow Dot I’m asking ‘Can you help’. My idea is tried, tested and works. I’m looking for that connection to keep it going.

Would I turn the clock back? Would I have got on that tube? Yes. Because of what I’m doing today. Because of the difference it’s making. Because of the mothers saying ‘You’ve helped so many lives, go out there and save more.’