Zakia Jafri, Relentless Advocate for Justice Post-Gujarat Riots, Passes Away at 86

Zakia Jafri, a prominent figure in the fight for justice following her husband Ehsan Jafri’s murder during the 2002 Gujarat riots, passed away at the age of 86. Her unwavering pursuit of accountability for the atrocities committed remains a significant chapter in India’s socio-political narrative.

Article Text: Zakia Jafri, an influential advocate for justice and an unwavering voice for the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots, died on February 2 at her daughter’s residence in Ahmedabad, India. She was 86 years old, as confirmed by her son Tanveer Jafri. Her husband, Ehsan Jafri, was among the over 1,000 individuals, primarily Muslims, who lost their lives in the violence that erupted following an incident on February 27 that year. The riots were sparked by a fire on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, with tensions escalating as rumors about Muslim involvement spread.

Zakia's relentless pursuit of justice transformed her personal tragedy into a broader campaign against government inaction and complicity. She accused Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time and is currently India’s Prime Minister, of conspiracy related to the riots. For close to two decades, she maintained her case in the face of numerous challenges. Human rights activist Teesta Setalvad noted that Zakia carried the weight of her loss with resilience, enduring despair yet embodying hope for the families affected.

Born on January 15, 1939, in Rustampur, Madhya Pradesh, Zakia was one of six children raised in a well-to-do farming family. She moved to Ahmedabad after marrying Ehsan Jafri in 1962 and devoted her life to advocating for justice after losing him in the gruesome violence.

Zakia Jafri's legacy will be remembered not only for her personal fight for justice, but as a symbol of resistance against communal violence and systemic failures in India's legal framework following one of the darkest chapters in its recent history.