Former Presenter Zeda Salim Admits to Experiencing Domestic Violence from Husband, Depression to Hospitalization

Dream - Former Presenter Zeda Salim reported her husband, HAJ, to the police. She accuses him of domestic violence or DV.

“So regarding the issue of DV, we have just officially reported it to the police,” said Zada Salim, quoted from Pagi Pagi Ambyar, Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Zeda had previously reported to the National Commission on Violence Against Women. “Both of us, along with the legal team, have reported to the Metro Bekasi police,” she added.

Before reporting her husband to the police and seeking help from the National Commission on Violence Against Women, Zeda tried a persuasive approach. She mentioned that there had been mediation with prominent religious figures regarding their marital issues.

Experiencing Neglect

However, she said that the mediation and advice from teachers and habibs have not been followed by her husband.

“The habib has mediated between us and has strongly reprimanded my husband to be fair, otherwise he will be publicly censured. A letter was written to prevent slander since this is a religious marriage. But the order from a prominent religious teacher has not been followed until now,” she said.

Not only violence, Zeda also admitted to experiencing neglect in the past two years. She even felt unrecognized as a wife because their marriage was kept secret.

“During those two years, there was neglect. I, as a wife, was not properly provided for physically and emotionally. And I was not recognized, hidden as a wife. The marriage is legally recognized according to religious customs witnessed by habibs and my family,” said Zeda.

Hospitalized

She claimed to have gotten married in early 2021. However, two to three months after the marriage, she already felt neglected. “In the following year, there was neglect again for about half a year,” she added.

What's even more heartbreaking, Zeda said that her husband forbids her from getting pregnant. She added that her husband will not provide emotional support if she does not use contraception.

“As a wife, I have the right to get pregnant, have children, but I am not allowed to. I am not allowed to have children,” said Zeda.

“Even when providing emotional support through physical intimacy, he refuses to touch me if I don't use contraception. In other words, taking birth control pills, contraception for men,” she added.

Hoping for a Proper Divorce

This 36-year-old woman admitted that her mental health has been affected by the domestic violence. She has even been hospitalized multiple times due to acute depression.

“As a result of the psychological violence, I suffer from psychosomatic symptoms, acute gastritis, dyspepsia, shortness of breath. I have been treated in the ICU, hospitalized due to acute depression. Bipolar, psychologically,” said Zeda Salim.

She hopes that her husband can divorce her properly, according to Islamic law.

“We have been married for over two years and until now I have not been properly divorced, in a civilized and moral manner according to the applicable Islamic law,” she said.