The serial abuse scandal that Kashmir must confront

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Ziraat Times
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By: Ziraat Times Editorial Board

The harrowing verses penned by a survivor of Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, a serial child abuser masquerading as a religious teacher in Sopore, Kashmir, lay bare a chilling reality: monsters often lurk in the most trusted spaces. For over 25 years, Sheikh hasĀ  exploited his position of reverence to prey on children as young as eight, committing unspeakable acts under the guise of faith. His recent conviction and 14-year sentence, following a grueling nine-year trial (Case: UT through P/S Bomai Vs. Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh), offer a sliver of justice. Yet, his victimsā€™ anguishā€”echoed in lines like ā€œHe silenced me with shame and fear, whispering threats of ghosts nearā€ ā€” demands societal reckoning in Kashmir.

This case is not an anomaly but a symptom of a general societal deficiency. Lately, multiple such cases have been reported. Many more go unreported. Predators like Sheikh thrive on the blind trust communities place in such religious figures, whether ā€œfaith healers,ā€ or madrassa teachers. Their veneer of piety disarms parents, while their access to vulnerable children enables cycles of abuse. The survivorā€™s courage to ā€œbreak the silenceā€ after 15 years of torment highlights how fear and societal stigma perpetuate these crimes. Worse, as the poem notes, ā€œNine long years, he has been free, shattering the lives of children like meā€ ā€” a stark indictment of delayed justice.

The Sopore case compels urgent action. First, parents must abandon complacency. Trust should not equate to naivety. Vigilance is critical: vet educators, question isolation practices, and encourage open dialogues with children. Second, institutions must dismantle cultures of secrecy. Religious centers and schools must implement safeguardsā€”background checks, surveillance, and mandatory reporting of abuse. Third, the justice system must prioritize survivors. Expedited trials, trauma-informed protocols, and harsh penalties for abusers are non-negotiable.

Sheikhā€™s victims, now adults, carry lifelong scars. Their resilience, however, lights a path forward. As one survivor implores: ā€œLetā€™s end this horror which no child should endure.ā€ Protecting our children requires collective courageā€”to question authority, to listen to whispers of pain, and to act before more innocence is stolen.

Faith should nurture, not destroy. Let this verdict remind us: no title, no robe, no scripture absolves evil. Trust, but verify.

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143 COMMENTS

  1. A tip of iceberg lurking around for a long that has ingredients here in the name spreading the message of the faith but conducive atmosphere to thrive is the local heads instead stressing and exhibit the faith to be followed andpracti e as prdain.
    Which is mostly missing factor.
    Hence malice has been allowed to crop in.
    Very bad let faith is followed in letter and siprit.

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