Today's session of the federal court trial of Varsha and Mahender Sabhnani--the multimillionaire couple accused of enslaving two domestic workers--was graphic and, I'm sure, hard for some to take. The allegations of abuse of two domestic workers were dramatically presented in photographic form. The images were wrenching.
Many who hear of this case react along the lines of: "Here? This can't be happening here."
But the allegations were made here on Long Island, about actions reported to have taken place behind the closed doors of a Muttontown estate.
Without getting into the ultimate guilt or innocence of the Sabhnani couple, it's worth noting that cases of abuse against domestic workers from overseas are more common than many would like to believe. In fact, some term it an epidemic.
Here are some stories that show the landscape:
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/usadom/
http://www.ips-dc.org/campaign/index.htm
http://www.aclu.org/womensrights/humanrights/28034res20070117.html
--Noel Rubinton