Islamabad, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Human Rights and Women Empowerment, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, has called on the international community and human rights organizations to address the increasing use of custodial rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war by Indian troops in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Mushaal, who is also the wife of the detained Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, highlighted a disturbing trend of sexual abuse perpetrated by Indian forces in the region, urging for global intervention to stop these violations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mullick expressed her concerns over the silence of the international community and global powers regarding the sexual violence committed by Indian forces in IIOJK, which has been ongoing for over seven decades. She brought attention to statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that reported 275 cases of custodial rape in India between 2017 and 2022. These cases, spread across various states, involve law enforcement, armed forces, and other custodial entities, showcasing a systemic abuse of power. Mullick cited specific incidents, such as the gang rapes in Kunan Poshpora in 1991, the double murder and rape in Shopian, and the gang rape of young Asifa Bano, as stark examples of the atrocities faced by women in the region. The SAPM stressed that these actions not only highlight the misuse of power by Indian forces but also expose their disregard for humanity and women’s rights.
Mullick also pointed out the broader impact of such violence, noting that since 1989, over 11,000 cases of sexual violence have been reported in IIOJK, resulting in nearly 23,000 widowed women and over 107,805 orphaned children. Despite the severity of these acts, she affirmed the resilience of Kashmiri freedom fighters against the brutality of Indian forces.
This appeal by Mullick underscores a pressing need for international awareness and action against the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in IIOJK, challenging the world to confront and address these human rights violations.