‘I am still numb’: Bilkis Bano on release of convicts

India

oi-Deepika S

New
Delhi,
Aug
17:
Bilkis
Bano
said
she
was
“bereft
of
words”
and
“numb”
after
11
men
who
raped
her
during
the
2002
Gujarat
riots,
were
set
free.

In
a
statement
released
by
her
lawyer,
Bano
said,
“Two
days
ago,
on
August
15,
2022
the
trauma
of
the
past
20
years
washed
over
me
again.
When
I
heard
that
the
11
convicted
men
who
devastated
my
family
and
my
life,
and
took
from
me
my
3-year-old
daughter,
had
walked
free.
I
was
bereft
of
words.
I
am
still
numb.”

“Today,
I
can
say
only
this
–
how
can
justice
for
any
woman
end
like
this?
I
trusted
the
highest
courts
in
our
land.
I
trusted
the
system,
and
I
was
learning
slowly
to
live
with
my
trauma,”
the
statement
said.

“The
release
of
these
convicts
has
taken
from
me
my
peace
and
shaken
my
faith
in
justice.
My
sorrow
and
my
wavering
faith
is
not
for
myself
alone
but
for
every
woman
who
is
struggling
for
justice
in
courts,”
it
added.

“No
one
enquired
about
my
safety
and
well-being,
before
taking
such
a
big
and
unjust
decision.
I
appeal
to
the
Gujarat
Government,
please
undo
this
harm.
Give
me
back
my
right
to
live
without
fear
and
in
peace.
Please
ensure
that
my
family
and
I
are
kept
safe,”
the
statement
concludes.

After
spending
over
15
years
in
jail,
11
convicts
in
the
Bilkis
Bano
case
of
the
2002
riots
walked
out
of
jail
as
the
Gujarat
government
has
allowed
their
release
under
its
remission
policy.