Gujarat Muslim Women Gang Raped
- From: "Muslim News" <editor_@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <submit@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 00:00:13 +0100
Muslim women were subjected to "unimaginable inhuman and barbaric"
sexual violence during recent communal riots in the west Indian state of
Gujarat, according to a woman's panel that has visited the state.
Many women suffered the worst forms of sexual violence, including
gang-rape, says their report, "How has the Gujarat massacre affected
minority women. The survivors speak", released on Tuesday.
The violence began when 58 passengers were killed when a train carrying
Hindu activists was torched on 27 February. It led to one of the worst
bouts of Hindu-Muslim violence in the state.
The official death toll in last month's riots has now risen to 778,
although welfare groups put the figure at about 2000.
'Complicity'
Most of the rape victims were burnt alive, Tuesday's report says.
The head of the team, Syeda Hameed, told a Delhi press conference that
the impact of such violence on women has been physical, economic and
psychological.
The team - one of the first to visit Gujarat in the aftermath of the
riots - says it found evidence of police complicity in perpetrating
crime against women.
They allege that the police refused to file complaints by the victims.
The team also demanded the announcement of a special compensation
package.
The panel also demanded that a special tribunal be set up to ensure
justice for victims.
The report also said there was no evidence of any support from the state
authorities in Gujarat to help women who had suffered attack.
Special guards
In parliament on Tuesday, junior Home Minister ID Swamy said the Gujarat
Government had taken a pro-active role in supporting relief camps run by
non-government organisations and that essential commodities were being
supplied.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Government announced special security measures to
ensure protection to nearly 200,000 students who will be taking exams
from Thursday.
Gujarat's Education Minister Anandi Patel says special buses guarded by
the police will be made available to help students travel in six
riot-affected districts where exams have been postponed.
Sporadic violence in Gujarat's main city,
Ahmedabad, has continued with another death in police firing during
clashes between Hindus and Muslims late on Monday night.
At least 11 areas of Ahmedabad district are still under curfew.
Source: BBC
============================================================
You can choose whether you prefer to receive regular emails or a weekly digest
by visiting http://www.muslim-news.net
Archive: http://archive.muslim-news.net
You can subscribe by sending an email to request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
"subscribe" (without quotes) in the subject line, or by visiting
http://www.muslim-news.net
You can unsubscribe by sending an email to request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with the
word "unsubscribe" (without quotes) in the subject line, or by visiting
http://www.muslim-news.net
You are welcome to submit any relevant news story to submit@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For regular Islamic cultural articles by email, send email to
revivalist-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
============================================================
Other related posts:
- » Gujarat Muslim Women Gang Raped
