On the occasion of #InternationalWomensDay2019 let us remember Kashmiri women who are resolute in their fight against oppression and refuse to be silenced by the Indian State.
Zeba (name changed), 38, has been in jail since October 2019 under UAPA.
Zeba (name changed), 38, has been in jail since October 2019 under UAPA.
Zeba was arrested from Handwara for putting up posters allegedly inciting the people to continue shutdown protests against India after the abrogation of article 370.
Zeba was arrested for the first time in 2009, after she fought with police men at Baramulla police station who had picked up and detained her husband because Zeba’s brother had eloped with a woman and married her.
Zeba’s fight with the police men escalated into a large protest which led to the killing of 3 persons in police firing. Following this, both Zeba and her husband were jailed for 4 and 6 months, respectively.
Since Zeba's husband is already amongst the profiled people, therefore in 2016 he was arrested again & detained under PSA for 18 months. Zeba survived those difficult months and provided support to her 4 children and also put up a brave struggle for the release of her husband.
Zeba is a courageous woman who refuses to give up despite these adversities. Even now, as she is in jail under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, her husband says that Zeba cannot be silenced.
Zeba epitomises the spirit of all Kashmiri women who have put up a brave resistance to State oppression and survived despite all odds and difficulties.
