The Narratives – Mohamed Miah

Mohamed Miah | The Narratives

Why Weak Punishment Fuels Crime and Shame in Our Communities

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Every few months, the headlines hit again: another grooming gang, another attack on worshippers, another child abused. Too often it’s men, sometimes with families, living double lives while preying on the vulnerable. Let’s call it what it is: sickness. These men are not just criminals — they are a disease. They destroy lives, they shame families, and they wound whole communities.

Imagine the wives and children. Imagine the lifelong humiliation. That stain doesn’t wash out. These men don’t only harm their victims — they ruin the lives of everyone who shares their name, neighbourhood, or faith. We must name it honestly, loudly, and without pity.

Weak Punishment, Weak Deterrent

Sentencing in the West is too soft. A few years inside and they’re back out. Where is the deterrent? These people should be disowned by their communities and families; deported where possible; stripped of rights when the law allows; and jailed for long terms that reflect the lives they’ve damaged. When the system is soft, crime thrives. When consequences are real, people think twice.

Stop Hiding Behind “Respect”

Too many cover-ups happen in the name of “respect” or preserving family honour. That fake respect protects the guilty, not the innocent. There is no honour in silence. If elders, leaders, or relatives value “honour” over the safety of children, they are complicit. Real courage is standing with victims, naming the evil, and removing it — even if it means your own family name is dragged into the light.

Parents, Elders, and Shared Responsibility

Once, communities policed themselves. Elders, neighbours, and parents all had a role. If you stepped out of line in the 70s, 80s, even the 90s, an elder would check you and your parents would back it. Now we outsource responsibility to schools and the police and then complain when those systems fail. We must reclaim our role in raising upright children: boundaries, consistency, and accountability — not endless excuses and coddling.

“Hug a hoodie” has its place, but compassion alone isn’t a plan. Broken young people need love and firmness. They need structure, consequences, and guidance. We must be willing to be that again.

Mental Health Before Manslaughter

Everyone has intrusive or strange thoughts sometimes. That doesn’t make you evil — it makes you human. The difference is that 99% recognise those thoughts as wrong and never act on them. The danger comes from the small minority who do. We need accessible, stigma-free mental health services so people can get help before they cross the line. Prevention is kinder and more effective than trying to rebuild lives after the damage is done.

The Media, Politics, and Divide & Rule

The media will blow the story up — not to heal or help, but to sell. Drama pays. Fear sells. Turning a few men into an indictment of entire communities makes for easy clicks. Politicians lap it up because division keeps people distracted. This is old: divide and rule. Don’t fall for it. One man’s crime is not the sin of everyone who looks like him. And if something happens overseas, it is not the fault of ordinary people living here.

Religion Abused: Using God’s Name for Evil

There is something especially poisonous when people wrap crime in the name of religion. Using God, scripture, or faith as a cover for abuse or violence is the worst hypocrisy. It not only harms the victim — it makes wider society hate religion. It pushes people away from belief itself.

All major faiths — Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and others — carry a core theme of togetherness, mercy, patience, and tolerance. They do not teach the abuse of the weak or the targeting of the innocent. When someone justifies cruelty with religion, they are not defending God — they are desecrating belief. And you will answer for that before your Creator.

If you want to fight, channel it lawfully. Join your country’s military. Join an MMA or boxing club. Train, compete, and be accountable. There is no glory in attacking ordinary civilians. That is cowardice dressed up as conviction.

What We Must Demand

• Tougher sentencing — real penalties that deter.
• Stripping of rights where lawful — including deportation; citizenship/residency reviewed for those who betray public trust.
• Unwavering support for victims — immediate protection and long-term care.
• Free, stigma-free mental health access — before damage is done.
• Communities that speak up — no more hiding behind hierarchy or “respect.”
• Parents and elders stepping up — be the village that raises decent people.
• Reject guilt-by-association — don’t hand media or politicians the power to smear millions for the crimes of a few.

Stay Steadfast — Faith, Strength, and Generosity

Keep your heart right. Don’t let anger become the master. Stay steadfast and true. Be generous and kind. Have patience. Help one another. No matter the poison, face it with willpower, willingness, gentleness, and generosity.

The solution is not to harden into hatred, but to harden our standards. Protect victims, punish predators, and build communities where children grow with dignity and safety. That’s how you kill the disease — not by hiding it, not by excusing it, and not by letting it be used to divide us.

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© Mohamed Miah | The Narratives