Women’s groups and activists in Sri Lanka have expressed deep concern about the rape and murder of the eight-year- old girl, Asifa. Asifa’s story made headlines around the world after the girl was found gang-raped in a temple in the Indian District of Kashmir over a four-day period. The women’s groups and individual activists have written to Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu “to raise their voices in protest” about the case which they claim was more “horrific” than others that have taken place in the region in the past two years.
Former Under Secretary General of the United Nations and former UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy is among the signatories to the letter to the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo.
Following is the full text of the letter dated April 25, 2018.
Your Excellency,
We are deeply disturbed by the recent events in Rasana, in the Kathua district of Kashmir and shocked by the fact that a young eight year old was tortured and gang raped in a temple over a four-day period before she was strangled and killed. Let us begin by saying that we welcome the response of the average Indian citizen whose outrage and mobilization is an inspiration to other societies faced with similar atrocities.
As members of the regional community we raise our voice in protest for particular reasons that make this case more horrific than others that have taken place in our region in the last year or two. First, it took three months for the facts to come to light and we commend the men and women, Jammu Kashmir police force for finally bringing this matter to light before the courts. Secondly, ministers from the ruling government attended rallies in support of the accused uttering communal statements, despite the brutal nature of the crime. Thirdly, lawyers and the Bar Association of the area also came out in support of the accused and tried to block the police from bringing their evidence to court. These are unconscionable matters and the Indian public has taken the lead in responding to the vicious nature of this behaviour. Finally, the use of rape of a child as a weapon to terrorize another community is particularly heinous and deserves national, regional and global condemnation.
Your Excellency, we fear for our region, in that many of our societies are experiencing governmental action and political movements that enable hate crimes, hate speech and general intolerance toward another community.
This is done through the creation of organizations that engage in vicious acts and sometimes enjoy immunity, as well as through the social media. We urge India and the governments of the region to take bold steps to confront these issues and to return South Asia to its roots where respect for diversity and humanity were part of its cultural heritage and many of the movements of independence from colonialism.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed by: )
Organizations
· Center for Social Concerns- Jaela
· Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum- Colombo 5
· Mannar Women’s Development Federation
· Women’s Action Network
· Muslim Women Development Trust- Puttalam
· Affected Women’s Forum - Akkaraipattu
· Women and Media Collective – Colombo
· Women’s Education and Research Centre (WERC)
Individuals
· Radhika Coomaraswamy- Former Under Secretary General of the United Nations
· Dr Malathi de Alwis- Visiting Faculty, University of Colombo
· Camena Guneratne- Professor Open University of Sri Lanka
· Sarala Emmanuel- Suriya Women’s Development Centre
· Deshanbandu Jezima Ismail- Chairperson Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
· Professor Savitri Goonesekere- Board Member of the Global Partnership on VAC
· Annie Kurian- Centre for Social Concerns
· Prema Gamage- Freelance Consultant
· Dr. Kumari Jayawardhane- Secretary. Social Scientists’ Association
· Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe- University of Kelaniya
· Silma Ahamed- Activist Mother
· Florine Marzook- Researcher
· Shreen Abdul Saroor- Women’s Rights Activists
· Mahalaxumy Kurushanthan- Women’s Rights Activists
· Juwairiya Mohideen- Women’s Rights Activists
· Jensila Majeed- Women’s Rights Activists
· Vanie Simon- Women’s Rights Activists
· C.Y. Idamegama- Gender Consultant
· Inoka Priyadarshani- Social Researcher.
· Chandra Welegedera- Director, Women’s Development Centre, Badulla
· Selvy Thiruchandran PhD- Trustee and Board Member Women’s Education and Research Centre (WERC)
· Fathima Cader- Print and Electronic Media Journalist
· Chulani Kodikara- PhD candidate- University of Edinburgh
· Ein Lall- Documentary film maker.
· Dr. Farzana Haniffa- Senior Lecturer. University of Colombo
· Munza Mushtaq- Journalist
· Sumika Perera- Coordinator Women’s Resource Center, Kurunegala
· Dr. Sepali Kottegoda DPhil (Sussex) Director Programmes - Women’s Economic Rights and Media Women and Media Collective
· Kumudini Samuel- Director, Programmes and Research. Women and Media Collective
· Dr. Nimalka Fernando- Women’ s Political Academy, Mothers and Daughters of Lanka
· Anusha David- Chairman, Headlines
· Shafinaz Hassendeen- Director- Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
· Faizun Zackariya- Director- Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
· Anberiya Hanifa- Director- Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
· Iffath Anwar- Bachelor in Social Work- National Institute of Social Development
· Manjuka Sritharan- Bachelor in Social Work- National Institute of Social Development
· Aathifa Thowfeek- Trainee- Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
· Dilrukshi Handunnetti- Journalist and Lawyer & South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN)
· Hunniya Wazeer- Directress cum Principal. British International College, Matara
· Yasmin Aziz- Activist
· Farzana Khan- Director Viyakata(Pvt) Ltd