Revoke The Remission Of Convicts In Bilkis Bano Case, Activists Urge SC, As Outrage Continues

Over 6,000 citizens have urged the Supreme Court to revoke the release of the remission of 11 men convicted in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang rape.

"The remission of sentences for the 11 men convicted of gang-rape and mass murder will have a chilling effect on every rape victim who is told to 'trust the system', 'seek justice', and 'have faith'," they said in a joint statement.

AFP

The civil rights groups include Saheli Women's Resource Centre, Gamana Mahila Samuha, Bebaak Collective, All India Progressive Women's Association, Uttarakhand Mahila Manch, Forum Against Oppression of Women, Pragatisheel Mahila Manch, Parcham Collective, Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, Amoomat Society, WomComMatters, Centre for Struggling Women and Sahiyar.

Demanding that the remission must be revoked, the citizens noted that the early release of these murderers and rapists only strengthens the impunity of all men who commit rape and other acts of violence against women. "We demand that women's faith in justice be restored. We demand the remission of sentences for these 11 convicts be immediately revoked and they be sent back to prison to serve the remainder of their life terms," the statement said.

"Brahmins with good values"

A BJP MLA, who was a part of the Gujarat government panel that recommended remission of 11 men convicted in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang rape has courted controversy saying that some of the men are "Brahmins with good values".

Despite their conviction in 2008 by the Special CBI Court, which was upheld by the Bombay High Court in 2018, CK Raulji, the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Godhra even claim that some of the convicts may not have been involved in the crime.

BCCL

"We took the decision on the basis of a Supreme Court order. We were asked to look at their (convicts') behaviour and decide (on their early release)," he said, adding that "We asked the jailer and learnt that their behaviour was good in the prison. Also (some of the convicts) are Brahmins. They have good values."

"It is possible that they might have been fixed in the case due to their past family activities. When such riots take place, it happens that those who are not involved are named. But I don't know if they committed the crime," he said further.

Rape convicts get grand welcome

All the 11 men who were sentenced to life walked out if the jail on August 15, after serving more than 15 years in jail.

Images and videos of the 11 rape convicts being welcomed with sweets and garlands have caused massive outrage on social media.

Twitter

On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano, a resident of at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district, who was five months pregnant at the time, was gang raped and seven members of her family were killed during the riots triggered by the Godhra train burning incident.

Bilkis issues statement

Following the early release of her rapists, Bilkis issued a statement through her lawyer.

¡°Today, I can only say this ¨C how can justice for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I trusted the system and I was slowly learning to live with my trauma. The release of these convicts has taken from me my peace and shaken my faith in justice,¡± her statement said.

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