Community Announcement: Second Report Release on Moataz Moftah

For Immediate Distribution

Phoenix, Arizona, USA (August 16, 2022) – Facing Abuse in Community Environments (FACE), an organization founded in 2017 to address allegations of abuse at the hands of religious and community leaders, has released our second investigation report on Phoenix-area imam, Moataz Moftah. The violations included in this report that are substantiated include rape, assault, sexual molestation, assault of a minor, and kidnapping of a minor.

The first investigation report was released on November 11, 2019 and includes substantiated allegations that closely resemble the second report. This detail signifies the pattern of abuse that people in positions of power continue to perpetuate even when accountability efforts, such as employment termination, are enacted. This makes it all the more important for communities to not only believe victims, but to talk to each other and take steps to protect their communities.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Muslim community complete transparency and give notice to a pattern of behavior which, if left unattended, will continue to have dangerous ramifications for the existing communities, as well as potential future congregations and vulnerable populations.

CLICK HERE: FACE REPORT

Victim said in a statement:

“I tried my hardest to put the trauma of being raped by Moataz behind me, but the memories of that day would replay and I would go through the emotions of the trauma all over again. Almost a year after being raped, I found FACE, reached out to them and my experience was immediately validated. FACE continued to support me and they continue to do their best to shed light on predatory behavior and its impact on survivors and the community.”

CLICK HERE: FIRST FACE REPORT

The mission of FACE is to drive focused cultural change among Muslims that leads to transparent survivor-centered community safety and leader accountability, outside the criminal legal system, for those who abuse their positions of trust and authority.

VIDEO: WHAT IS THE FACE PROCESS?

FACE Director of Case Management, Sara Bawany, said in a statement:

“I am deeply disappointed in our criminal legal system, but even more-so in our Muslim leadership, who are more privy than anyone else to the cancer of abuse of power that occurs within our circles and still seek to protect institutions and reputations above the vulnerable people they serve. While neither of these failures come as a surprise, it is an unfortunate and harsh reminder of how far we have to go in terms of real accountability and real justice and of why organizations like FACE have to come into existence in the first place. While community leadership turns a blind eye, Moftah has left a trail of survivors in his path that continues to grow.”

If you need to report an instance of abuse with regard to Moataz Moftah or any religious/community leader, please complete a report at www.facetogether.org/report or call us at (844) 360-2489.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this report, please do not hesitate to email us info@facetogether.org.