rape gangs and muslim men

The Forgotten Victims: How Systemic Failures Enabled the Exploitation of Thousands of British Girls

By Ximena Rodríguez-López

One of the most infuriating aspects of living in America is hearing the ongoing discussions about the horrific rapes committed by Pakistani rape gangs. These conversations often feel detached and overly analytical, as if people are genuinely shocked that a religion they’ve been told is peaceful could reveal such deep-seated misogyny in how it treats non-believing women. My question is: why the shock? Why did so many Europeans hesitate to call out these men for fear of being labeled racist? How is it racist to point out that men subscribing to ideologies rooted in Islam might harbor beliefs that dehumanize women, viewing them as inferior?

What frustrates me the most is not just the endless debates but the lack of meaningful action to protect women and girls. When violence is committed against women, society often defaults to tiresome discussions and political hand-wringing instead of swift, decisive measures. Why is it that when women and girls are harmed, the solution always seems to involve endless dialogue, as if their safety is up for negotiation? It’s exhausting, it’s enraging, and, quite frankly, it’s unacceptable. Women and girls deserve more than debates; they deserve protection and justice.                                                                              In case you were not aware, over the past few decades, a dark chapter in British history unfolded as thousands of vulnerable girls fell victim to organized sexual exploitation by rape gangs. These crimes, primarily perpetrated by men of Pakistani origin who identified as Muslim, targeted young, predominantly white British girls. While the abuse itself is horrifying, the systemic failures that allowed it to persist are equally devastating.

The men involved in these crimes were not acting as lone predators but as part of coordinated networks that operated with a sense of impunity. Many of the perpetrators justified their actions through cultural and religious frameworks, viewing the girls they targeted as inferior or outside the protections afforded to women within their faith. For some, religious teachings and cultural attitudes that dehumanized non-Muslim women played a role in shaping their predatory behavior. While it is critical to avoid broad generalizations about any faith, failing to acknowledge these factors does a disservice to understanding and addressing the root causes of these crimes.

In towns like Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford, the exploitation persisted for years. Vulnerable girls, many of whom came from troubled backgrounds, were groomed with promises of affection, money, or attention. Once under the perpetrators’ control, they were subjected to horrific abuse, including rape, trafficking, and violence. The numbers are staggering—an estimated 1,400 girls in Rotherham alone were abused between 1997 and 2013, as revealed by an independent inquiry. Yet the crimes remained largely hidden from public view, shielded by a culture of silence and fear.

One of the most damning aspects of this scandal is the role of the institutions meant to protect these girls. Police, social workers, and local authorities were repeatedly made aware of the abuse but failed to act. In some cases, victims were dismissed as unreliable or even blamed for their exploitation. Fear of being labeled racist or Islamophobic paralyzed those in power, allowing the abuse to continue unabated. Reports suggest that cultural sensitivity was prioritized over the protection of children, a decision that enabled the predators and abandoned the victims.

The abuse also raises uncomfortable questions about the role of cultural attitudes in perpetuating these crimes. Many of the perpetrators came from backgrounds where patriarchal norms and strict interpretations of religious teachings shaped their worldview. For some, this translated into a belief that non-Muslim women were lesser or permissible targets for exploitation and abuse. The rape gang scandals are a sobering reminder of the consequences of silence and inaction. The thousands of girls who suffered at the hands of these men were not only failed by their abusers but by the systems designed to protect them. Their stories demand accountability, systemic change, and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of girls.