Don't forget Mridul Wadhwa

A man is still CEO of Rape Crisis Scotland

With the events in Loudoun county and the attempts in the UK to discount the testimony of dozens of lesbians who have reported sexual coercion by trans-identified males, it’s easy to forget the many unresolved scandals piling up in the background. Perhaps the most pressing is the story of Mridul Wadhwa, CEO of Edinburgh Rape Crisis, who does not have a gender recognition certificate and holds a position that was advertised for women only. You may remember that Wadha implied that rape survivors may be treated differently according to their political views on trans rights and women-only spaces. He stated that people holding “discriminatory” views who sought help after being sexually assaulted would be encouraged to “reframe their trauma”.

I’ve already published the testimony of one victim who feels they cannot use Scotland’s rape crisis services because of the situation and here is another. That’s two women now unable to access a vital service for rape victims. How many more women are out there, too traumatised to tell their own?

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I’ve been a feminist for years. I got involved in the defence of women’s rights in 2018-19. I believed men, of any identity or inner feeling, had to be excluded from certain female-only spaces when appropriate. It was of course, all academic to me at that point. I still believe women need privacy and dignity in certain places. Except now it’s no longer academic for me. 

On the 6th of June 2021 I was the victim of a violent rape. This attack was carried out by someone I knew and should have been able to trust. For the first 2 days following the attack, I was numb. Shocked. I got up, showered, cared for my daughter and carried on like a zombie. I returned to work on the 8th as normal. I went to use the loo and was horrified to suddenly see my injuries, as the shock wore off. The loo was full of blood, my wrists were bruised, my thighs were bruised. I fell apart. I rang my GP where the receptionist assured me that I’d see a female for my examination. I did, and felt safe. Naturally, the GP recommended Rape Crisis Scotland to support me through this. She also recommended I contact Police Scotland. I did neither and I am speaking out about why as I know I’m not the only woman in this situation.

I didn’t contact Rape Crisis for one reason and one reason only. Mridul Wadhwa. I was aware there was a man in charge of Rape Crisis and was naturally uncomfortable with this. I did more digging while contemplating calling them. Finding interviews from this man focusing on orgasms in rape victims made me retch. I threw up. I felt mildly violated and couldn’t bear the thought of the details of what happened to me available for a man so fixated on some fetish fantasy of rape to read. So, I didn’t call. Told myself I’d cope with just Police Scotland. Why have I not rung them? Police Scotland believe biological sex isn’t important. I cannot be guaranteed a female officer, or dare to ask in case I’m labelled a bigot or end up like Marion Millar, charged with a non-crime that’s been brought to fruition based on someone’s “feelings”.  Their ideological capture and obvious disdain for any woman not towing the ‘transwomen are women” line has left me unable to trust them with this. It left me fearful that my wellbeing after such a traumatic incident wouldn’t be their priority. I’ve had no reason to date to change my mind.

Where did this leave me? Alone, that’s where it left me. Hanging on by my fingernails, unable to sleep, with nobody to turn to except an overstretched GP. I felt suicidal, I felt angry. I reached out to Posie Parker and have no doubt she saved my life that night. It got that bad. 

I’m now channelling the anger into proving that the so-called “strawman argument” about trans women affecting women’s services is exactly the opposite of a strawman argument, it’s a reality. It affects women now. It has already affected me. I’m not alone and by far not the only woman who has felt they had no option but to turn away from Rape Crisis. Trust in the police to protect women and girls is at an all-time low. The legacy of this movement already has victims. Young people caught up in the ideology who believe they must butcher their bodies to match their feelings. Women too afraid or traumatised to use the services set aside for us. Share my story with anyone who tells you transwomen are women. In times of trauma due to male violence, a change of clothing does nothing to ease the terror a victim feels.