In brief
Zakia Jafri, who spent nearly 20 years advocating for justice related to the tragic events of the 2002 Gujarat riots, has died at the age of 86. Her husband, Ehsan Jafri, was murdered during the communal violence that resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people, mainly from the Muslim community.
Zakia Jafri passed away on February 2 at her daughter’s residence in Ahmedabad, India. Her commitment to seeking justice for her husband's death and advocating for the victims of the riots was unwavering. In the legal proceedings that followed the violence, she held Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, accountable, claiming he conspired in support of the violence against Muslims.On February 27, 2002, a train fire in Godhra claimed the lives of nearly 60 Hindu pilgrims, which then sparked retaliatory riots across Gujarat, leading to widespread atrocities against the Muslim population. During this period, Zakia's husband, Ehsan Jafri, a noted lawyer and politician, was killed by a mob in his own house. Teesta Setalvad, a human rights activist, remarked on Zakia’s resilience, stating that she embodied hope and strength for all survivors of the violence. Zakia was born on January 15, 1939, in Madhya Pradesh and married Ehsan Jafri in 1962, moving to Ahmedabad afterward. Her legacy is marked by her tenacity in the quest for justice for those affected by the riots, as well as her deep personal loss.
