Statement on the passing of Zakia Jafri, widow of MP Ehsan Jafri

Feb. 2, 2025

Justice For All expresses condolences to the family of Zakia Jafri on her passing on Feb. 1, 2025

2002 was a defining year for the persecution of minorities in India. While there had always been communal tensions time and again in the country, this was the first time that a sitting Chief Minister of a State was accused of and his aides were recorded implicating him for letting three days of carnage of Muslims happen in the State of Gujarat. That Chief Minister was Narendra Modi, currently the Prime Minister of India.

One of those killed at the time was Member of Parliament, Ehsan Jafri. He had given shelter to some in his building and was trying to ask the police for help. Instead, he was one of 69 killed there. That was what brought Zakia Jafri, his widow, to fight a long and sustained legal battle, in order to hold the top political leaders at that time accountable for the carnage that they allowed. She had accused the Modi govt. of delaying the deployment of the Army after the failure of the police to contain the killings. Her legal battle was across several courts, the Gujarat High Court, as well as the Supreme Court of India.

Zakia Jafri passed away on Feb 1, 2025 in Ahmedabad, India. Several leaders in India paid tributes to Zakia Jafri, Fr. Cedric Prakash, a Jesuit priest attended her funeral and Teesta Setelvad paid her tributes as a post on her X account.
Zakia Appa a compassionate leader of d human rights community passed away just 30 minutes ago!Her visionary presence will be missed by d nation family friends & world! Tanveernhai, Nishrin, Duraiyaappa, grandkids we are with you! Rest in Power and Peace Zakia appa! #ZakiaJafri (https://x.com/TeestaSetalvad/status/1885584017921036763)

Justice For All would like to express our condolences to the family. Regardless of the successes or failures of her petitions in court, Justice For All would like all to reflect upon the circumstances that brought her to move these official agencies, and also to remember her in supplication to finally give her the peace that she so rightly deserved. We would also encourage everyone to borrow from her commitment to justice, and try to incorporate it into our daily routines. Justice is sometimes delayed, but it will come.