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Paper short abstract

Applying a theoretical framework of Islamic feminism, the paper analyses how the women survivors of enforced disappearances in Kashmir develop the solidarity and emotional bond among each other. The paper traces their transition from an individual journey to a collective struggle for justice

Paper long abstract

Women, in the violent conflict of Kashmir, experienced direct and indirect violence for many years. The enforced disappearance of their loved ones (sons, brothers and husbands) inflicted a profound socio-economic impact on the surviving women, who face formidable challenges in the aftermath of the disappearance. However, rather than being mere victims of enforced disappearances of loved ones, these women act as “survivors” who exercise their agency by navigating socio-economic challenges and building the strong bonds with the other survivors. The Association of Parents of Disappeared not only to takes up their legal battles but also provides a space of sharing grief and develop emotional bonds. Applying a theoretical framework of Islamic feminism, the paper analyses the agentive role of the women survivors while developing the solidarity among each other to face the emotional and material losses. The paper uncovers how the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons provided a space for solidarity among the women survivors where they continue to provide emotional and collective support to each other. By in-depth analysis of few cases, the paper explores the journey of the women survivors from an individual journey to a collective struggle for justice, which reflects the transformative potential of empowering these women in Kashmir.