Once again, the sacred soil of Kashmir has been stained—not by the footprints of an enemy, but by the tears and pain of a woman brutally violated in Nishat, Srinagar. An alleged rape that has not only shattered a soul but exposed the terrifying silence of our society. A silence so loud, it deafens every cry for justice.
Why is it that women in Kashmir, again and again, are forced to normalise exploitation, abuse, and trauma? Why does our society fail to raise a hue and cry when such heinous crimes occur? Have we, as a people, grown so desensitised that a woman’s dignity no longer moves our conscience?
Let us be clear—rape is not just an act of violence. It is a crime against humanity. And every time we choose to stay silent, every time we scroll past the news, every time we blame the victim, we become accomplices in this crime.
What is even more disturbing is the alarming trend where men who commit these atrocities are not just shielded by lawlessness, but by a network of other men—friends, family, neighbours—who offer blind support without questioning the gravity of the crime. Is this support rooted in loyalty? Or is it the desperate urge to keep patriarchy alive, even if it means burying truth and justice?
I spit on such men. I spit on such a system.
In a society where women are treated like disposable tissues—used and thrown—where is the outrage? Where are the moral custodians, the influencers, the lawmakers? Where is the voice of the people?
Let us not forget—silence in the face of injustice is support for the oppressor. If you choose to remain neutral in a situation of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
This is not just about one woman in Nishat. This is about every girl who walks home in fear. Every mother worries about her daughter’s safety. Every woman who has ever been told to stay quiet because “izzat ka sawaal hai.”
No more. Enough is enough.
We must rise. We must speak. We must act.
Say NO to abuse.
Say NO to exploitation.
Say NO to the normalisation of violence against women.
Let the air in Kashmir not carry the cries of helpless women, but the voice of a united society that no longer tolerates injustice.
The writer is a practising lawyer
Adv Nadeem Khaliq
ad**************@***il.com