
Zakia Naseem Jafri (1938 or 1939 – 1 February 2025) was an Indian human rights activist known for her legal efforts related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. She became widely recognized as the widow of Ehsan Jafri, a Congress Member of Parliament who was killed during the riots.
Zakia Jafri | |
---|---|
![]() Jafri during an interview in 2017 | |
Born | 1938 or 1939 |
Died | (aged 86) Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Human rights activist |
Known for | Legal battle for justice in the 2002 Gujarat riots |
Spouse | Ehsan Jafri (died 2002) |
Children |
|
Background
Zakia Jafri was the widow of Ehsan Jafri, a lawyer from Burhanpur who was elected as a member of parliament in 1977. Born into a wealthy landlord family in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, in the late 1930s, she married Jafri when he was serving as an attorney in Madhya Pradesh. They had three children: two sons, Tanveer and Zuber, and a daughter, Nishrin.
In 1969, during communal riots in Khandwa, their home was attacked, forcing them to stay in a refugee camp for some time before relocating to Ahmedabad in 1971. Jafri died in Ahmedabad on 1 February 2025, at the age of 86. She was interred in the same cemetery as her husband.
The 2002 Gujarat riots
Widespread riots occurred in Gujarat in 2002. The state government later stated 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed during the riots; independent sources put the death toll at over 2,000, the vast majority of them Muslims. The Gulbarg Society massacre occurred during the riots, on 28 February. A crowd began pelting stones at the Gulbarg Society, a Muslim neighbourhood in the eastern part of Chamanpura in Ahmedabad. Ehsan Jafri was among 35 victims burned alive, while 31 others went missing and were presumed dead. According to Zakia Jafri, she and a few others managed to survive by hiding in an upstairs room.
Legal proceedings
Zakia Jafri filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India in 2006, alleging that law enforcement authorities had failed to take action against key political figures, including then–Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In 2008, the Supreme Court directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine her claims. The SIT concluded the investigation in 2012, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute Modi or other officials. Jafri filed a plea challenging the SIT's findings, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court in June 2022, upholding the closure report. As a result of her numerous legal filings, Jafri was seen as the "face of the fight for justice" for the victims of the 2002 riots, according to the Mint.
In a report from The Caravan, Jafri stated that her husband, Ehsan Jafri, made multiple calls to senior Gujarat state officials, including then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi, seeking help as a mob surrounded Gulberg Society during the 2002 Gujarat riots. According to her, Jafri pleaded for intervention but received no assistance. A witness later testified in court that Jafri had also called Modi and was allegedly met with verbal abuse rather than support.
References
- "Zakia Jafri: Human rights activist and Gujarat riots widow dies aged 86". The Independent. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "'We did everything to live in harmony, yet father was killed'". The Indian Express. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "The Daughter of Ehsan and Zakiya Jafri Writes: My Mother, My Motherland". The Wire. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- Gottipati, Sruthi (24 April 2012). "A Conversation With: Zuber Jafri". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "For Zakia,?endless? fight against Modi & SIT is on". The Indian Express. 27 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "Mr Modi, justice has a way of coming around". Rediff. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "Gujarat riots: SC to hear Zakia Jafri's plea on Monday against clean chit to PM Modi". The Statesman. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri, widow of Cong MP killed in Gujarat riots, dies in Ahmedabad". Business Standard. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- "Who is Zakia Jafri?". The Indian Express. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Gujarat riots survivor and legal crusader Zakia Jafri dies at 86". The Indian Express. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri, survivor and advocate for justice in 2002 Gujarat riots, passes away". Hindustan Times. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri, wife of former Cong MP killed in 2002 Gujarat riots, dies in Ahmedabad". Mathrubhumi. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri, who took on Narendra Modi after her Congress MP husband was killed in Gujarat riots, dies". The Telegraph India. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Genesis of the Zakia Jafri Case". CJP. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri: Judgment Summary". Supreme Court Observer. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri, the face of legal battle in Gujarat riots cases, dies. All you need to know". Mint. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- Waje, Hemant (1 February 2025). "Zakia Jafri, wife of ex-Cong MP killed in 2002 Gujarat riots, dies". Rediff. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Who was Zakia Jafri, wife of an ex-Congress MP who died in the Godhra riots?". Hindustan Times. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "'Bees saal unhone jung ladi': Kin, activists remember Zakia Jafri who spearheaded the fight for justice in 2002 Gujarat riots". The Indian Express. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- Balaji, R. (2 February 2025). "Zakia Jafri, face of 2002 Gujarat riot protest, passes away at 86". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "Gujarat riot death toll revealed". BBC News. 11 May 2005. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- Jaffrelot, Christophe (July 2003). "Communal Riots in Gujarat: The State at Risk?". Heidelberg Papers in South Asian and Comparative Politics. doi:10.11588/heidok.00004127. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- Campbell, John; Seiple, Chris; Hoover, Dennis R.; et al., eds. (2012). The Routledge Handbook of Religion and Security. Routledge. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-415-66744-9.
- Jaffrelot, Christophe (25 February 2012). "Gujarat 2002: What Justice for the Victims?". Economic & Political Weekly. 47 (8). Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- "Zakia Jafri Case: Bringing the High and Mighty to Justice". CJP. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri, Gujarat Riots Survivor Who Fought Cases to Pin Accountability for the Violence, Dies". The Wire. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "2002 Gujarat riots survivor and legal crusader Zakia Jafri passes away at 86". Financial Express. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri, wife of former Congress MP killed in 2002 Gujarat riots, dies in Ahmedabad". The Hindu. 1 February 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- Ramesh, Mythreyee (10 December 2021). "The Life & Legacy of Zakia Appa: Gujarat Riot Survivor and Activist Passes Away". TheQuint. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Year later, Gulbarg still a ghost town". The Indian Express. 1 March 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "The Gulbarg Society massacre: What happened". NDTV. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Safehouse of Horrors". Tehelka. 3 November 2007. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- Jose, Vinod K (5 October 2017). ""There Was No Question Of Help": Zakia Jafri On the Gulburg Society Massacre". The Caravan. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri's complaint thoroughly examined, no material found to take it forward, SIT tells SC". The Economic Times. 10 November 2021. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Court defers Zakia Jafri's plea for copy of report that allegedly clears Modi". NDTV. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Clean chit to Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots: SC defers hearing on Zakia Jafri's plea yet again". The Tribune. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Zakia Jafri case: Court says SIT report finds no proof against Narendra Modi". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "SIT finds no proof against Modi, says court". The Hindu. 10 April 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- "SC dismisses Zakia Jafri's plea against clean chit to Narendra Modi in 2002 riots case: A timeline of how it played out". The Indian Express. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- Rajagopal, Krishnadas (24 June 2022). "2002 Gujarat riots | Supreme Court rejects Zakia Jafri's charges against Narendra Modi, 60 officials". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Modi: Zakia Jafri's riots plea against India PM rejected". BBC News. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- "Gujarat riots: SC dismisses Zakia Jafri's plea against clean chit to Modi". Business Standard. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
Zakia Naseem Jafri 5 6 1938 or 1939 1 February 2025 was an Indian human rights activist known for her legal efforts related to the 2002 Gujarat riots 7 8 She became widely recognized as the widow of Ehsan Jafri a Congress Member of Parliament who was killed during the riots 9 10 11 12 13 Zakia JafriJafri during an interview in 2017Born1938 or 1939Died1 February 2025 aged 86 Ahmedabad Gujarat IndiaNationalityIndianOccupationHuman rights activistKnown forLegal battle for justice in the 2002 Gujarat riotsSpouseEhsan Jafri died 2002 wbr ChildrenTanveer Jafri son Nishrin Jafri Hussain daughter 1 2 3 Zuber Jafri younger son 4 Contents 1 Background 2 The 2002 Gujarat riots 3 Legal proceedings 4 ReferencesBackgroundeditZakia Jafri was the widow of Ehsan Jafri a lawyer from Burhanpur who was elected as a member of parliament in 1977 Born into a wealthy landlord family in Khandwa Madhya Pradesh in the late 1930s she married Jafri when he was serving as an attorney in Madhya Pradesh 5 They had three children two sons Tanveer and Zuber and a daughter Nishrin 4 In 1969 during communal riots in Khandwa their home was attacked forcing them to stay in a refugee camp for some time before relocating to Ahmedabad in 1971 9 14 15 Jafri died in Ahmedabad on 1 February 2025 at the age of 86 16 17 18 She was interred in the same cemetery as her husband 19 20 The 2002 Gujarat riotseditMain article 2002 Gujarat riots Widespread riots occurred in Gujarat in 2002 The state government later stated 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed during the riots 21 independent sources put the death toll at over 2 000 22 23 the vast majority of them Muslims 24 The Gulbarg Society massacre occurred during the riots on 28 February 25 26 27 28 29 A crowd began pelting stones at the Gulbarg Society a Muslim neighbourhood in the eastern part of Chamanpura in Ahmedabad Ehsan Jafri was among 35 victims burned alive while 31 others went missing and were presumed dead 30 31 32 According to Zakia Jafri she and a few others managed to survive by hiding in an upstairs room 33 Legal proceedingseditZakia Jafri filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India in 2006 alleging that law enforcement authorities had failed to take action against key political figures including then Chief Minister Narendra Modi In 2008 the Supreme Court directed a Special Investigation Team SIT to examine her claims 15 34 35 36 The SIT concluded the investigation in 2012 finding that there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute Modi or other officials 37 38 Jafri filed a plea challenging the SIT s findings which was dismissed by the Supreme Court in June 2022 upholding the closure report 7 39 40 41 42 As a result of her numerous legal filings Jafri was seen as the face of the fight for justice for the victims of the 2002 riots according to the Mint 16 In a report from The Caravan Jafri stated that her husband Ehsan Jafri made multiple calls to senior Gujarat state officials including then Chief Minister Narendra Modi seeking help as a mob surrounded Gulberg Society during the 2002 Gujarat riots According to her Jafri pleaded for intervention but received no assistance A witness later testified in court that Jafri had also called Modi and was allegedly met with verbal abuse rather than support 33 Referencesedit Zakia Jafri Human rights activist and Gujarat riots widow dies aged 86 The Independent 2 February 2025 Retrieved 2 February 2025 We did everything to live in harmony yet father was killed The Indian Express 1 March 2018 Retrieved 2 February 2025 The Daughter of Ehsan and Zakiya Jafri Writes My Mother My Motherland The Wire Retrieved 2 February 2025 a b Gottipati Sruthi 24 April 2012 A Conversation With Zuber Jafri The New York Times Retrieved 2 February 2025 a b For Zakia endless fight against Modi amp SIT is on The Indian Express 27 December 2013 Archived from the original on 21 May 2017 Retrieved 2 February 2025 Mr Modi justice has a way of coming around Rediff 21 September 2011 Retrieved 2 February 2025 a b Gujarat riots SC to hear Zakia Jafri s plea on Monday against clean chit to PM Modi The Statesman 13 November 2018 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri widow of Cong MP killed in Gujarat riots dies in Ahmedabad Business Standard 2 February 2025 Retrieved 9 February 2025 a b Who is Zakia Jafri The Indian Express 24 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Gujarat riots survivor and legal crusader Zakia Jafri dies at 86 The Indian Express 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri survivor and advocate for justice in 2002 Gujarat riots passes away Hindustan Times 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri wife of former Cong MP killed in 2002 Gujarat riots dies in Ahmedabad Mathrubhumi 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri who took on Narendra Modi after her Congress MP husband was killed in Gujarat riots dies The Telegraph India 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Genesis of the Zakia Jafri Case CJP 28 October 2017 Retrieved 1 February 2025 a b Zakia Jafri Judgment Summary Supreme Court Observer 24 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2025 a b Zakia Jafri the face of legal battle in Gujarat riots cases dies All you need to know Mint 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Waje Hemant 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri wife of ex Cong MP killed in 2002 Gujarat riots dies Rediff Retrieved 1 February 2025 Who was Zakia Jafri wife of an ex Congress MP who died in the Godhra riots Hindustan Times 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Bees saal unhone jung ladi Kin activists remember Zakia Jafri who spearheaded the fight for justice in 2002 Gujarat riots The Indian Express 2 February 2025 Retrieved 2 February 2025 Balaji R 2 February 2025 Zakia Jafri face of 2002 Gujarat riot protest passes away at 86 The Telegraph India Retrieved 2 February 2025 Gujarat riot death toll revealed BBC News 11 May 2005 Archived from the original on 26 February 2009 Retrieved 17 February 2017 Jaffrelot Christophe July 2003 Communal Riots in Gujarat The State at Risk Heidelberg Papers in South Asian and Comparative Politics doi 10 11588 heidok 00004127 Archived from the original on 7 June 2007 Retrieved 17 February 2017 Campbell John Seiple Chris Hoover Dennis R et al eds 2012 The Routledge Handbook of Religion and Security Routledge p 233 ISBN 978 0 415 66744 9 Jaffrelot Christophe 25 February 2012 Gujarat 2002 What Justice for the Victims Economic amp Political Weekly 47 8 Archived from the original on 23 January 2021 Retrieved 20 January 2021 Zakia Jafri Case Bringing the High and Mighty to Justice CJP 19 November 2018 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri Gujarat Riots Survivor Who Fought Cases to Pin Accountability for the Violence Dies The Wire 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 2002 Gujarat riots survivor and legal crusader Zakia Jafri passes away at 86 Financial Express 1 February 2025 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri wife of former Congress MP killed in 2002 Gujarat riots dies in Ahmedabad The Hindu 1 February 2025 ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 1 February 2025 Ramesh Mythreyee 10 December 2021 The Life amp Legacy of Zakia Appa Gujarat Riot Survivor and Activist Passes Away TheQuint Retrieved 1 February 2025 Year later Gulbarg still a ghost town The Indian Express 1 March 2003 Retrieved 1 February 2025 The Gulbarg Society massacre What happened NDTV 11 March 2010 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Safehouse of Horrors Tehelka 3 November 2007 Archived from the original on 29 April 2009 Retrieved 1 February 2025 a b Jose Vinod K 5 October 2017 There Was No Question Of Help Zakia Jafri On the Gulburg Society Massacre The Caravan Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri s complaint thoroughly examined no material found to take it forward SIT tells SC The Economic Times 10 November 2021 ISSN 0013 0389 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Court defers Zakia Jafri s plea for copy of report that allegedly clears Modi NDTV 15 February 2012 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Clean chit to Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots SC defers hearing on Zakia Jafri s plea yet again The Tribune 6 October 2021 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Zakia Jafri case Court says SIT report finds no proof against Narendra Modi www ndtv com Retrieved 2 February 2025 SIT finds no proof against Modi says court The Hindu 10 April 2012 ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 2 February 2025 SC dismisses Zakia Jafri s plea against clean chit to Narendra Modi in 2002 riots case A timeline of how it played out The Indian Express 24 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Rajagopal Krishnadas 24 June 2022 2002 Gujarat riots Supreme Court rejects Zakia Jafri s charges against Narendra Modi 60 officials The Hindu ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 1 February 2025 Modi Zakia Jafri s riots plea against India PM rejected BBC News 24 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Gujarat riots SC dismisses Zakia Jafri s plea against clean chit to Modi Business Standard 25 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2025 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zakia Jafri amp oldid 1275025965
