Bilkis Bano was 19 and five months pregnant when she and her family were attacked during the 2002 Gujarat riots, where more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the violence. The 11 men sentenced to life in prison in 2008 for rape, murder and unlawful assembly were released from prison in the western Indian state of Panchmahals on Monday. Media footage showed convicts offering sweets outside the prison. An official told Reuters news agency that the prison district’s advisory board recommended their release after taking into account their time in prison and their good behavior. “The fact is that they had spent almost 15 years in prison and they were entitled to remission,” said Sujal Jayadibhai Maiatra. Indian laws allow convicts to seek parole after serving 14 years in prison. The decision to release the men was made by the Gujarat government, which is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi was the state’s chief minister during the 2002 riots and was accused of condoning violence at the time, as were police and government officials. Mrs Bano, now in her 40s, and her husband were not told the men were to be released. Image: Protest in New Delhi on Thursday In a statement through a lawyer afterwards she said the news had left her “speechless” and “numb” and had “shaken” her faith in justice. He said: “No one asked about my safety and well-being before making such a big and unfair decision. “The trauma of the last 20 years hit me again.” He has now appealed to the Gujarat government to “undo this damage”. “Give me back my right to live without fear and peace. Please make sure my family and I are safe,” he said. The decision has sparked outrage with protests taking place in the capital New Delhi on Thursday. Activists held placards that read: “Protect rapists and punish victims.” Opposition politicians and lawyers said the release contradicted the government’s stated policy of uplifting women in a country notorious for violence against them. “Committing the sentence of convicts for a heinous crime like gang-rape and murder is morally and ethically inappropriate,” said senior advocate Anand Yagnik. “What’s the signal we’re trying to send?”

title: “Muslim Woman Raped By Hindu Mob Calls For Reversal Of Unfair Decision To Free Her Attackers Global News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-31” author: “Lashon Meadows”

Bilkis Bano was 19 and five months pregnant when she and her family were attacked during the 2002 Gujarat riots, where more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the violence. The 11 men sentenced to life in prison in 2008 for rape, murder and unlawful assembly were released from prison in the western Indian state of Panchmahals on Monday. Media footage showed convicts offering sweets outside the prison. An official told Reuters news agency that the prison district’s advisory board recommended their release after taking into account their time in prison and their good behavior. “The fact is that they had spent almost 15 years in prison and they were entitled to remission,” said Sujal Jayadibhai Maiatra. Indian laws allow convicts to seek parole after serving 14 years in prison. The decision to release the men was made by the Gujarat government, which is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi was the state’s chief minister during the 2002 riots and was accused of condoning violence at the time, as were police and government officials. Mrs Bano, now in her 40s, and her husband were not told the men were to be released. Image: Protest in New Delhi on Thursday In a statement through a lawyer afterwards she said the news had left her “speechless” and “numb” and had “shaken” her faith in justice. He said: “No one asked about my safety and well-being before making such a big and unfair decision. “The trauma of the last 20 years hit me again.” He has now appealed to the Gujarat government to “undo this damage”. “Give me back my right to live without fear and peace. Please make sure my family and I are safe,” he said. The decision has sparked outrage with protests taking place in the capital New Delhi on Thursday. Activists held placards that read: “Protect rapists and punish victims.” Opposition politicians and lawyers said the release contradicted the government’s stated policy of uplifting women in a country notorious for violence against them. “Committing the sentence of convicts for a heinous crime like gang-rape and murder is morally and ethically inappropriate,” said senior advocate Anand Yagnik. “What’s the signal we’re trying to send?”

title: “Muslim Woman Raped By Hindu Mob Calls For Reversal Of Unfair Decision To Free Her Attackers Global News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-04” author: “Michael Bacon”

Bilkis Bano was 19 and five months pregnant when she and her family were attacked during the 2002 Gujarat riots, where more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the violence. The 11 men sentenced to life in prison in 2008 for rape, murder and unlawful assembly were released from prison in the western Indian state of Panchmahals on Monday. Media footage showed convicts offering sweets outside the prison. An official told Reuters news agency that the prison district’s advisory board recommended their release after taking into account their time in prison and their good behavior. “The fact is that they had spent almost 15 years in prison and they were entitled to remission,” said Sujal Jayadibhai Maiatra. Indian laws allow convicts to seek parole after serving 14 years in prison. The decision to release the men was made by the Gujarat government, which is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi was the state’s chief minister during the 2002 riots and was accused of condoning violence at the time, as were police and government officials. Mrs Bano, now in her 40s, and her husband were not told the men were to be released. Image: Protest in New Delhi on Thursday In a statement through a lawyer afterwards she said the news had left her “speechless” and “numb” and had “shaken” her faith in justice. He said: “No one asked about my safety and well-being before making such a big and unfair decision. “The trauma of the last 20 years hit me again.” He has now appealed to the Gujarat government to “undo this damage”. “Give me back my right to live without fear and peace. Please make sure my family and I are safe,” he said. The decision has sparked outrage with protests taking place in the capital New Delhi on Thursday. Activists held placards that read: “Protect rapists and punish victims.” Opposition politicians and lawyers said the release contradicted the government’s stated policy of uplifting women in a country notorious for violence against them. “Committing the sentence of convicts for a heinous crime like gang-rape and murder is morally and ethically inappropriate,” said senior advocate Anand Yagnik. “What’s the signal we’re trying to send?”

title: “Muslim Woman Raped By Hindu Mob Calls For Reversal Of Unfair Decision To Free Her Attackers Global News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “Thelma Mcpherson”

Bilkis Bano was 19 and five months pregnant when she and her family were attacked during the 2002 Gujarat riots, where more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the violence. The 11 men sentenced to life in prison in 2008 for rape, murder and unlawful assembly were released from prison in the western Indian state of Panchmahals on Monday. Media footage showed convicts offering sweets outside the prison. An official told Reuters news agency that the prison district’s advisory board recommended their release after taking into account their time in prison and their good behavior. “The fact is that they had spent almost 15 years in prison and they were entitled to remission,” said Sujal Jayadibhai Maiatra. Indian laws allow convicts to seek parole after serving 14 years in prison. The decision to release the men was made by the Gujarat government, which is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi was the state’s chief minister during the 2002 riots and was accused of condoning violence at the time, as were police and government officials. Mrs Bano, now in her 40s, and her husband were not told the men were to be released. Image: Protest in New Delhi on Thursday In a statement through a lawyer afterwards she said the news had left her “speechless” and “numb” and had “shaken” her faith in justice. He said: “No one asked about my safety and well-being before making such a big and unfair decision. “The trauma of the last 20 years hit me again.” He has now appealed to the Gujarat government to “undo this damage”. “Give me back my right to live without fear and peace. Please make sure my family and I are safe,” he said. The decision has sparked outrage with protests taking place in the capital New Delhi on Thursday. Activists held placards that read: “Protect rapists and punish victims.” Opposition politicians and lawyers said the release contradicted the government’s stated policy of uplifting women in a country notorious for violence against them. “Committing the sentence of convicts for a heinous crime like gang-rape and murder is morally and ethically inappropriate,” said senior advocate Anand Yagnik. “What’s the signal we’re trying to send?”