Seminar Highlighted Kunan Poshpora as a Gendered War Crime in IIOJK
February 25, 2025The atrocities committed in Kunan Poshpora remain one of the darkest chapters of the Kashmir conflict, and the call for justice echoes louder than ever.
The Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter recently organized a seminar in Islamabad to discuss the horrific Kunan Poshpora incident, which was chaired by senior Hurriyat leader Muhammad Farooq Rahmani. The seminar focused on the 1991 gang rape of nearly 100 women by Indian soldiers in the villages of Kunan and Poshpora in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a crime that remains one of the darkest chapters in the region’s ongoing struggle for freedom.
The speakers at the event expressed their collective shame over the Kunan Poshpora atrocity, calling it a blot on India’s so-called claim of being the world’s largest democracy. Despite the passage of 34 years, the victims of this heinous crime have yet to receive justice, and the Indian soldiers responsible continue to roam free, immune to accountability. This ongoing injustice has left a deep scar on the Kashmiri people, whose memories of the brutal assault remain vivid and painful.
The speakers at the seminar pointed out that the immunity granted to Indian soldiers under draconian laws, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), is the root cause of atrocities like the Kunan Poshpora incident. These black laws shield Indian forces from prosecution and have allowed them to commit grave violations with impunity. The gang rape incident, they emphasized, is a clear example of the oppression and tyranny faced by the people of IIOJK under Indian occupation.
The speakers also underscored the disturbing trend of India using sexual violence as a weapon of war in the occupied territory. They paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Kashmiri women—mothers, daughters, and sisters—who have faced unimaginable atrocities while contributing to the ongoing freedom movement. Their pain and resilience continue to fuel the struggle for self-determination.
The call for justice was echoed by all the participants, who urged the international community to exert pressure on India to reopen the Kunan Poshpora gang rape case. They demanded that the perpetrators be held accountable for their actions, ensuring that justice is finally served for the victims of this brutal crime.
Among the dignitaries who attended the seminar were Uzma Gul, Azad Kashmir Minister Nabeela Ayub, Ambassador Naila Chohan, and senior Hurriyat leaders including Mahmood Ahmed Saghar, Syed Yousuf Naseem, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Shamim Shawl, and many others. Their presence underscored the unity and determination of the Kashmiri leadership in pursuing justice for the victims of Kunan Poshpora.
The seminar concluded with a strong call to the global community to stand with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their fight for justice and freedom, and to ensure that incidents like Kunan Poshpora are never forgotten or left unaddressed.
