Srinagar, Feb 23: Various human rights groups and the members of the civil society Tuesday protested the denial of justice to victims of rape which they said has been used as a war weapon by troops during the past 20 years of conflict in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Majlis-e-Mashawarat Shopian, J&K Coalition of Civil Society, Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti and J&K Trade Union Centre staged a silent protest in a park here on the 19th anniversary of Kunanposhpora mass rape in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. They were protesting the human rights violations mainly rape and expressed sympathies with the victims.
 “From Kunanposhpora to Shopian justice has been denied to the victims of rape which has been used as a weapon of war during last 20 years,” said Abdul Rashid Dalal, President of Majlis-e-Mashawarat Shopian, which spearheaded protests in the wake of rape of two women there last year.
 “Our protest is meant for protesting the incidents of rape and to express sympathies with victims’ families.” He said not only were the victims of the rape denied justice by letting off the perpetrators but also the victims of other human rights violations.
 “We express our sympathies with the families of Wamiq Farooq and Zahid Farooq. It is shameful on part of police that they have levelled allegations against Wamiq and termed him as miscreant,” Dalal said.
 Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar, brother of Asiya Jan and husband of Neelofar, who were raped and murdered in May last year, said that he felt the pain of all the victims of Kunanposhpora mass rape. “Today I can feel what they have gone through.”
 He vowed to carry on his fight for justice. “I will continue to fight for justice to Asiya and Neelofar even if I have to make more sacrifices,” an emotional Shakeel remarked.
 While expressing solidarity with the rape victims and their families, President Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti, Sanjay Tikoo, said rape has been used as a war weapon by the “state and non-state actors against women irrespective of religion.”
 “We have to get united and rise against this phenomenon. We have to stand up for the women folk,” he appealed people.
 Human rights activist Pervez Imroz said from Kunanposhpora to Shopian the state has failed to punish the perpetrators of the human rights violations, mainly rape.
 “State has always denied these incidents. And at the same time forces enjoy impunity by virtue of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” he said.
 The members of the civil society, he urged, need to create pressure so that there is some accountability in the cases of HR violations.
 “We will never forget Kunanposhpora, we have to fight for justice to victims,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST