Dundee teenager says four-year delay in alleged rape case has left her ‘waiting for closure’

A Dundee teenager claims that a four-year delay in her alleged rape case has left her waiting for closure. Laamiya Khan, now 19, alleges she was raped by a former teacher when she was 14. She reported the incident to police on the same day, but the case has remained unresolved, with the alleged perpetrator still out on bail. Khan, determined to use her voice to encourage other survivors, said the repeated postponements have been emotionally taxing.

Despite the trauma, her family supported her from the beginning, encouraging her to report the matter to the police. However, the reactions of some in the wider community were difficult, leaving her feeling isolated at a sensitive time. Khan believes that the adults and institutions around her should have recognized her as a child in need of protection, rather than suspicion or silence.

She expressed that while she believes in justice, the current system is failing to provide the support and timely resolution that survivors need. Khan is calling for the government and the criminal justice system to prioritize the needs of survivors by addressing court delays and providing trauma-informed care.