Kashmir’s #MeToo Arrives: Women Recount Sexual Abuse, Harassment

The stories range from abuse during childhood by an aunt to harassment by the editor of Kashmir Walla Magazine.

Next in line in India’s #MeToo movement, which is spreading like a wildfire at the moment, is Kashmir. By Tuesday evening, 9 October, more than 13 cases of sexual harassment had surfaced.

It began with the Kashmir Women's Collective, that took the initiative of documenting stories of harassment.

The stories range from abuse during childhood by a paternal aunt to the editor of Kashmir Walla Magazine, for forcing a woman to kiss him.

In a publicly accessible Google document, the collective has clarified that the women mentioned in the cases wish to remain anonymous for their own safety.

“We have collected this data from the primary source, the women themselves, and after their consent, are sharing it publicly for a few reasons,” the document specifies.

Listing ten instances of what comprises cases of sexual harassment and terming them as an example of absolute male privilege and entitlement, the collective said, “These girls have stayed quiet for too long. Let's support them, unconditionally.”

Among the 13 cases, including the ones with unnamed harassers, the following prominent names surfaced:

1. Gowher Geelani, Political Analyst
2. Sameer Yasir, Lecturer Peace and Conflict, Islamic University of Science and Technology
3. Fahad Shah, Journalist, Editor of Kashmir Walla Magazine
4. Masood Muntazar, DD Anchor
5. Javid Trali, political worker
6. Hakim Shaukat Ali, Ministry of Rural Development

The list also mentions a shocking recount of sexual assault by a woman who was abused by her paternal aunt. Her account reads:

I was four-five and would sleep next to her some days when my parents were busy in their petty fights. She would ask me to put my hand in her pyjamas and then touch her private parts, she would kiss me. And she would beat me in the absence of my parents which made me live in fear. I was petrified of her. I have always hated her but never been able to tell my parents or confront her. Not even my mother.

According to the collective, “these are cases ranging from frivolous chats with absolute disregard to the girl’s discomfort, silence or disinterest, to attempts at physical assaults and forceful inappropriate touching.”

On a commonly asked questions against survivor’s silence, the collective has said that, “Not everyone would like to lodge an FIR because the justice system is slow, weak and biased and hectic too. It is their choice how they pursue their case. We should support them.”