Photo: File
Islamabad, : Kashmiri leader and Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) Altaf Ahmed Bhat in a statement here in Islamabad today has said that while women around the world celebrate their strides towards equality, the women of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir remain among the most marginalized and oppressed.
The region’s status as the most militarized zone exacerbates the challenges faced by women, subjecting them to unimaginable hardships and dire circumstances.
Bhat further said that alarming statistics: over 11,263 women have been sexually assaulted in the past 34 years, with 22,973 widowed, scores imprisoned, and countless orphaned or living as half-widows. The situation is grim, with women enduring arbitrary detention, violence, and even death.
Highlighting egregious cases such as the mass rape in Kunan and Poshpora in 1991 and the recent Shopian double rape and murder, Bhat underscores the culture of impunity enjoyed by perpetrators, including government forces. Despite mounting evidence, justice remains elusive, leaving survivors and their families to grapple with trauma and injustice.
He further said that the brutality extends beyond sexual violence, with incidents of pellet gun attacks leaving many women, including children like Insha Mushtaq, permanently disabled. Cases like that of Asiya and Neelofer in Shopian serve as stark reminders of the vulnerability of women in conflict zones.
On Women’s International Day, Bhat calls upon the international community to break their silence and hold perpetrators accountable. He urges human rights organizations to prioritize the protection of women’s rights and dignity, demanding impartial investigations into crimes committed against women in Kashmir.
Echoing the urgent need for justice and recognition of the plight of Kashmiri women Bhat mentioned that the political prisoners specially Asiya Andrabi, Fehmida Sofi, and Naheeda Nasreen who are languishing in indian jails just because of their demand for Right to self determination and freedom from indian occupation.
Chairman JKSM Altaf Ahmed Bhat reiterated his commitment to advocating for the rights of women in Kashmir, he also called upon the world community to heed their cries for justice and support in their struggle for dignity and equality.
