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27 days ago

Anonymous harassment, fake religious accounts, and feeling watched - I don’t know what to do

Assalamu alaikum. I’m posting this anonymously because this has been going on for months and it’s affected my safety, mental health, and daily life. For context he’s almost in his forties and I’m in my early twenties. I run a public Islamic Instagram account where I share reminders and religious content. I don’t show my face, I don’t share my location, and I don’t put personal details. Last summer I briefly spoke to a man online through that space. It was short and entirely online. Once I realised something felt off and it wasn’t going to work, I clearly ended it and cut contact. I never met him, never encouraged anything beyond that brief chat, and never gave him access to my real life. After that, the harassment started. I began getting anonymous NGL messages framed as religious advice or criticism. At first they seemed harsh, but they quickly became obsessive, hostile, and repetitive - accusing me of lying, spreading fitnah, misleading people, following deviant beliefs, being extreme. I never replied or engaged. Then fake accounts started appearing. Newly created profiles with no photo, no posts, almost no followers - some followed only me, others followed Islamic pages I follow. One even used my name in Arabic. They’d follow me, watch my stories, then disappear; when one vanished another would pop up. Blocking didn’t stop it. It became a pattern. What made it much worse is it didn’t stay online. I began seeing him in person at my local masjid. On more than one occasion he showed up while I was there. He followed me inside and then outside. Once he followed me into a nearby coffee shop. He didn’t approach or speak, but he stared in a way that felt deliberate and intimidating - prolonged, focused, and unnerving. I felt unsafe. He also took pictures of me while I tried to leave and sent them to me. After I didn’t respond he told me “he hates me.” I had to call the police. They came, took me to their car to make sure I was safe, and stayed while they assessed the situation. After that he disappeared from the area for a while. But the harassment didn’t stop - it just moved back online. He kept sending anonymous messages and creating fake accounts. Sometimes he’d reappear at the masjid after silence; other times he’d escalate online. The unpredictability is one of the worst parts. He also began targeting my friends with anonymous messages and DMs, sometimes insulting them, sometimes pretending to be a neutral third party. He claimed I’d fabricated things, and once lied that he’d spoken to my father - clearly an attempt to intimidate. He even said he was telling “the brothers” not to propose to me, as if trying to harm my reputation or future. One of the most disturbing messages implied he’d seen me at the masjid even though I’d never posted about being there. It was accurate - he really had been watching me. Because of this I became anxious about attending the masjid. I started avoiding normal religious spaces out of fear and even avoided bringing family because I worried he might notice them and target them too. I reported everything to the police. They said they couldn’t identify him and eventually closed the case. I also spoke to my local masjid but nothing meaningful was done, which left me sad and frustrated. This has continued from last summer until now: silence for a while, then sudden reappearances through fake accounts, anonymous messages, or sightings. Even when it’s quiet I don’t feel safe because the silence never lasts. I never engaged after cutting contact - no replies, no arguments, no escalation - yet the fixation continues. I’m sharing this because I don’t know what to do and because I want others to understand this isn’t just online drama. This is stalking, harassment, intimidation, and psychological pressure that has crossed into real life. If anyone has advice - legal steps I should push for, ways the masjid community can better protect sisters, or practical safety measures for someone in this position - please let me know. Jazakum Allah khair.

+290

Comments

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8comments
27 days ago

This is straight-up stalking. Keep every message, photo, and date stamped, and escalate to a higher police department if needed. Online platforms sometimes help more if you show the pattern. Don’t stop speaking up, we’re with you.

+12
27 days ago

Keep reporting every fake account and every DM to the platform-do it repeatedly, show patterns. Reach out to women’s legal aid groups in your area; they know how to push police. Also consider telling a few close family members so they watch out.

+13
27 days ago

Oh my heart, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Please keep screenshots, report each fake account to Instagram, and consider getting a restraining order if possible. Maybe ask a trusted sister to accompany you to the masjid for a while. Sending dua and strength. 💔

+5
27 days ago

This is so invasive. Try to get CCTV footage if the masjid has it and keep all messages backed up. If police won’t help, a lawyer or women’s protection NGO might. Don’t blame yourself, you did everything right by cutting contact.

+11
27 days ago

I’d be terrified too. Could you set stories to close friends only and stop all follows for a bit? Also change privacy, remove followers you don’t know, and tell the imam clearly what’s happening so it’s documented. You deserve safety. Stay safe, sis.

+9
27 days ago

I went through something similar and having a buddy system helped-one sister always sat near me and we left together. Also maybe change up your routines so he can’t predict you. Small things made me feel safer. Sending dua for protection.

+9
27 days ago

I’m so sorry. Please don’t walk alone to or from the masjid if you can avoid it. Maybe swap contact with sisters who can check on you, and consider temporarily taking a break from posting. Your safety comes first. Praying for you.

+5
27 days ago

It’s terrifying that the masjid didn’t act. Could you raise it with the mosque committee in writing so there’s a paper trail? And ask for cameras or more women volunteers during prayers. You shouldn’t have to avoid worship spaces.

+5
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