Thread by @VICENews

EXCLUSIVE: The wife of the Pulse nightclub gunman, Noor Salman, is ready to speak.

“It’s time people know the truth.” bit.ly/3DxjeUO

In 2018, Noor Salman was prosecuted then acquitted for helping her husband plan his attack, but the verdict was far from vindicating. With the exception of one interview before charges were brought against her, Salman has never spoken publicly—until now. bit.ly/3DxjeUO

In a series of exclusive interviews with VICE News, Salman has finally told her side of the story, one that provides a glimpse into how the private violence of domestic abuse can evolve into the public terror of a mass shooting. bit.ly/3DxjeUO

Salman says she wants to go on the record now because she feels as if her silence has been taken as a tacit admission of guilt. “I just didn’t talk because I didn’t have the strength.” bit.ly/3DxjeUO

Avoiding Omar Mateen’s wrath became Salman’s full-time job. “I made sure I never pissed him off. I was on eggshells every day.” Mateen also raped her repeatedly throughout their five year marriage. bit.ly/3DxjeUO

“Two years later, I cannot sleep without a pill and I never want to leave my home. I've had to build a wall around myself for my own protection. I flinch if someone touches me...that innocent, happy girl who used to wear colors, dresses in black.” bit.ly/3DxjeUO

“The first day of therapy, I remember to this day saying why was I so stupid? How did I not see the red flags? If [I] now went into the past and saw his behavior then yeah I would be like, oh shit, something's wrong.” bit.ly/3DxjeUO

“I need to think there's more to somebody than what they're showing you. You don't know anybody these days.” bit.ly/3DxjeUO

Read the full interview here: bit.ly/3DxjeUO