Breaking Chains: Dr. Shariqah Lodhi's Journey from Survivor to Advocate

For twelve years, Dr. Shariqah Lodhi lived in a cage without bars. Educated, intelligent, and capable, she was systematically broken down by a system that told her she had no value beyond serving others. In her home country, domestic violence wasn't just tolerated—it was expected. Women who spoke up faced social ostracism, legal barriers, and often, escalating danger.

"People ask me why I didn't leave sooner," Dr. Shariqah Lodhi reflects, her voice calm but resolute. "But leaving isn't simple when the entire society tells you that your suffering is normal, that it's your duty, that you deserve it. Breaking free required breaking everything I'd been taught to believe about myself."

When Survival Becomes Resistance

Dr. Shariqah Lodhi's turning point came not from a single dramatic event, but from an accumulation of small realizations. An online article about women's rights. A conversation with a cousin who had moved abroad. A moment of seeing her reflection and not recognizing the exhausted, defeated woman staring back.

"I had a master's degree in computer science," she says with a bitter laugh. "I used to design software. But I wasn't allowed to work, wasn't allowed to have my own money, wasn't allowed to speak to anyone without permission. I became a ghost in my own life."

The violence had escalated over the years. What began as verbal abuse and control grew into physical attacks, threats, and complete isolation. When Dr. Shariqah Lodhi finally decided to seek help from local authorities, she discovered a system that blamed victims and protected abusers.

"The police officer told me to 'be a better wife.' The judge told me to 'think of my family's honor.' The social worker suggested I try couples counseling. No one saw me as a human being with rights. I was just a problem that needed to go away quietly."

— Dr. Shariqah Lodhi, recalling her attempts to seek help domestically

The Silent Preparation

Dr. Shariqah Lodhi spent six months planning her escape. Using a hidden phone purchased with money saved from grocery shopping, she researched asylum options, connected with women's rights organizations, and slowly gathered essential documents.

"Every day was a performance," she recalls. "I had to act like nothing was different while internally, I was mapping out every step of leaving. One mistake, one suspicious moment, and it could all end in disaster."

During her research, Dr. Shariqah Lodhi found Project Freedom Path through an online support group for women facing similar situations. The organization specialized in gender-based violence asylum cases and understood the unique challenges women faced.

The Day Everything Changed

On a seemingly ordinary Tuesday morning, while her husband was at work, Dr. Shariqah Lodhi walked out of the house carrying only a small bag. She had rehearsed this moment a hundred times, but her hands still shook as she locked the door behind her for the last time.

She headed straight to the airport, using a ticket purchased secretly weeks before. As the plane lifted off, Dr. Shariqah Lodhi wept—not from sadness, but from the overwhelming weight of fear finally beginning to lift.

"I spent the entire flight terrified he would somehow find out, that I'd be dragged off the plane, that this escape wasn't real," she shares. "It wasn't until I landed in Melbourne that I started to believe I might actually be free."

Rachel, Dr. Shariqah Lodhi's case manager, became more than an administrative guide—she became a lifeline. "Rachel understood that gender-based violence asylum cases require specific expertise," Dr. Shariqah Lodhi explains. "She connected me with trauma counselors, legal experts who specialized in domestic violence claims, and a network of other survivors."

From Survivor to Advocate

Today, Dr. Shariqah Lodhi lives in a bright apartment in Melbourne's vibrant inner suburbs. The space is hers—decorated with her choices, filled with her books, organized according to her preferences. These small freedoms, which many take for granted, are precious to her.

She works as a software developer for a tech company that values diversity and has zero-tolerance policies for harassment. Her colleagues know her as brilliant, kind, and fiercely dedicated to mentoring young women in STEM fields.

But Dr. Shariqah Lodhi's impact extends far beyond her professional success. She volunteers with organizations supporting women escaping domestic violence, using her story to help others see that escape is possible, that they deserve safety and dignity.

"I speak at community centers, schools, and advocacy events," she shares. "When I tell my story, I see women in the audience crying. Afterwards, they come up to me, sometimes just to hold my hand, sometimes to whisper that they're in a similar situation. If my pain can help even one woman find the courage to leave, it's worth it."

The Ongoing Journey of Healing

Dr. Shariqah Lodhi is honest about the fact that healing isn't linear. She still has moments of fear, still sometimes checks over her shoulder, still struggles with trusting people.

"Trauma doesn't just disappear because you're safe," she explains candidly. "I work with a therapist who specializes in trauma and gender-based violence. Some days are harder than others. But the difference is that now, I have the space and support to heal. I'm not just surviving—I'm actually living."

She's building relationships on her own terms, exploring hobbies she was never allowed to have, making decisions without fear of punishment. She joined a book club, started learning to paint, and adopted a cat named Freedom.

"Project Freedom Path didn't just help me get asylum. They saw me as a whole person—someone with trauma, yes, but also someone with skills, dreams, and the right to live without violence. They helped me reclaim not just my safety, but my humanity. Today, I'm not defined by what happened to me, but by what I've overcome and what I'm building. That's true freedom."

— Dr. Shariqah Lodhi, Software Developer and Women's Rights Advocate in Melbourne