Good morning everyone!
Something different from me today. Instead of a written piece, I’ve decided to upload a video. I needed to get this off my chest. Some stories demand a more direct response, so here I am with a 20-minute rant.
Sara Sharif’s murder is one of those stories that stays with you. The ten-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking in 2023, and the subsequent review into her death has exposed a series of safeguarding failures. Professionals involved with the family hesitated to challenge certain behaviours or raise concerns, in part because they feared being seen as culturally insensitive.
Too often, “cultural sensitivity” becomes a shield that prevents proper scrutiny, and we must never allow the fear of offence to come before a child’s wellbeing and safety.
This isn’t about attacking one community or culture. It’s about recognising that fear of offending or being labelled “racist” can paralyse the systems meant to protect children. We owe it to Sara, and to every child, to make sure that never happens again.
Quite frankly, I’m tired. Tired of hearing the same excuses, the same “we can’t question this because of culture” line, over and over again.
It’s not an easy conversation, but it’s an important one, because change and reform can only begin with uncomfortable truths.
Post a comment below and let me know what you think.
*These are some of the links I mentioned in my video clip or recommended for further reading:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmx0ge18d8o
