'Jihad' Encourages Sexual Slavery in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
Terrorists fighting for the liberation of Kashmiris from Indian control - Use Kashmiri women as sex slaves.
In 1947, the ruler of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India while adhering to the British constitutional mechanism for the partition of the Subcontinent. His decision became an excuse for the newly-created Pakistan to occupy the districts of Gilgit and Muzaffarabad. Sensing Pakistan's hesitancy to withdraw, the representative of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan warned that the illegal presence of Pakistani troops and Islamic mercenaries posed a grave threat to Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's (PoK) life, honour, and assets and postponed a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan's seven-decade-long colonial approach has reduced the people of PoK to disenfranchised subjects, as if attempting to fulfil this prophecy. The military oligarchy's policy of maximising strategic gains from the Kashmir issue has motivated it to lease PoK to Islamic Jihadi outfits, creating major impediments to socioeconomic sustainability and casting long shadows over democracy and civil liberties.
Kashmiri Women are used as Sex-Slaves in the Name of Jihad
During an interview, Nasir Aziz Khan, the spokesperson for the United Kashmir People's National Party, revealed that many jihadi outfits in PoK fund their operations through sex rackets. Aziz stated that Syed Zameer Bukhari, chairman of Al-Muhafiz Foundation, was affiliated with Hafiz Saeed's Jamat-ud-Dawa in a recent video leak. Bukhari used the foundation's office space in District Bagh to lobby government officials on behalf of local girls. According to Aziz, Pakistani secret service agents and local ministers have backed Bukhari's request to halt judicial prosecution.
Terrorists who wage jihad in the name of liberating Kashmiris from Indian control exploit Kashmiri women as sex slaves. Indian police recently raided a Jihadi hideout in Kashmir, recovering steroids, sex pills, contraception, and pornographic material. One female rape victim told the media that a member of the Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit, which rules the roost in that neighbourhood, kidnapped her in broad daylight from her house.
Silence and ‘Honour’ prevail Over Justice
In a warzone like PoK, where rapists use political connections and collaboration with the military establishment to secure immunity, justice becomes a distant dream for rape victims. Sofia Bano was gang-raped in the PoK Prime Minister's hometown. Sofia claimed that the rapists were related to the Prime Minister. Her husband received death threats and eventually dropped the case because they couldn't afford to put their family in danger for an extended period of time.
Another gang-rape victim from Chehla Bandi claimed that she was raped by members of the ruling Muslim League, who have since made it difficult for the police to investigate the case.
"A Hussainkot gang-rape victim stated that her family chose honour over justice. One of the rapists, a police officer from her neighbourhood, filmed the incident in order to extort money, and the family paid him to keep quiet."
The vast majority of families cannot afford to go through the ordeal because their daughters will become "unmarryable" and will be unable to find suitable husbands. Such girls face formidable obstacles in continuing their education or finding work. Furthermore, the families risk losing social standing, assets, or businesses as a result of confronting the powerful perpetrators. Some families are even shunned and eventually relocate to other towns to avoid shame and retaliation.
Sexual assault in bunkers is on the rise.
Jalaluddin Mughal is a PoK journalist who wrote a piece about molestation and rape in security bunkers. The Islamic Relief Foundation, which has ties to the global Muslim Brotherhood movement, built many of these bunkers in the 1990s. According to Raja Saeem Manzoor, a political activist from Chikar, military clearance is required to build and manage such bunkers where women seek refuge at night during mortar attacks from the Indian side of Kashmir.
Mr. Manzoor revealed that sexual assault in bunkers is a silent epidemic.
Rapists are frequently soldiers who get away with their crimes because police and civil courts have no jurisdiction over military personnel. Furthermore, the bunker owners, emboldened by their relationship with the military, demand sexual favours from women in exchange for security.
PoK women are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Staying at home during the shelling puts one's life at risk, as does spending nights in these coop-sized unlit bunkers, according to Sajjad Raja, chair of Kashmir's Equality Party and currently residing in Manchester, UK. "It's a double whammy to speak out against sexual assault. Why risk losing a bunker spot by embarrassing the owner when there is no hope for justice due to the owner's political clout?" Raja wonders.
PoK women live to tell the tale and suffer.
Anam Zakaria mentions two local women, Mehnaz and Nasreen, in her Daily Dawn feature who chose to stay inside their homes during shelling. Nasreen admitted to Zakaria that she once dragged her children to the bunker for safety. An older man raped her 13-year-old daughter, Ayesha, there. Nasreen claimed that the man was armed with a knife and threatened to kill Ayesha for speaking up. Ayesha became pregnant a few months later, and the council decided to marry her to the rapist in order to save her honour. Ayesha died in labour due to her inability to cope with the pain of childbirth at such a young age. Her child died a few months later as well. According to Zakaria, many families choose to abort rape-related pregnancies at home rather than involve doctors in order to avoid social stigma, which increases the risks to lives.
Ms. Maria Tahir of District Bhimber stands tall in the midst of this doom and gloom. The constant threats to her life and honour did not deter her from exposing the rapists who have taken refuge among government ministers and military officials. Ms. Tahir told a press conference in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, that rapists videotaped the heinous incident to extort money, and when she refused, they kidnapped her and her child. She claims that the same gang burned to death another rape victim for speaking out.
While attempting to protect the perpetrators, the police filed a defamation case against Ms. Tahir in order to discourage her from pursuing the case. Ms. Tahir was also forced to sign documents declaring the rape to be consensual sexual activity, which means she could face adultery charges. Law enforcers tortured her family and petitioned the village council to settle the dispute, sensing no letup in her determination. Ms. Tahir has written 42 letters to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and his response should surprise everyone reading this article. During a courtroom conversation, the Chief Justice told Ms. Tahir, "You are already married, not a virgin. Rape should not bother you. Please dismiss the case."
Ms. Tahir is unable to return to Pakistan due to death threats. Daring rape victims like Ms. Tahir require widespread recognition, or their bravery and sacrifices will be in vain. She recently received a shot in the arm when several rights activists from around the world spoke on her behalf at the United Nations Human Rights Council's spring session.
Pakistan has signed the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which promotes gender equality, justice, and the protection of life, honour, and property.
However, for the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, this remains a distant dream as rulers use sexual violence against women as a tool to prolong occupation.
PoK is a re-enactment of East Pakistan, where local women were at the mercy of Pakistani soldiers for decades before local Bengalis sought Indian assistance to drive the Pakistani military out. The UN should send members of its Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to Pakistan to investigate the role of Pakistani officials and military-led Islamist terrorists in crimes against women. Furthermore, the international community must assist India in regaining control of PoK, as this is the only way to establish constitutional supremacy, protect citizens' rights, and eliminate terrorist organisations in order to restore local freedoms.