what happened last week in Asia, Africa and the Americas

Hey, this is Sham Jaff, your very own news curator. Each week, I highlight some of the biggest stories from regions and countries that are historically underreported in Western media. My goal is to burst our Western-centric bubbles, and expand the view we hold of the world we share with one another. Questions, comments, concerns? You can reach me anytime by replying to this mail. And if this newsletter was forwarded to you, you sign up at whathappenedlastweek.com.

Today in the newsletter: Issue #364 takes you to India. There was a huge Supreme Court ruling that should have been on all of our front pages in the West, but wasn't. If you're a feminist, a Muslim one in particular, you need to know the name of Bilkis Bano; that's who I'll be talking about in this issue.

India's Supreme Court cancelled the release of the 2002 riots rapists – "a win for justice"

What happened
India's Supreme Court made a major ruling: the 11 men convicted of crimes during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and released in 2022, must return to prison by the end of January 2024.

Why this matters
This ruling is a huge deal. It's not often that the Supreme Court changes its own past decisions. Indira Jaising, a lawyer involved in the case, said it's a landmark in the journey for justice. This decision could restore people's faith in the judicial system, which had been criticized for leaning towards government views in important cases.

What happened during the 2002 Gujarat Riots?
Gujarat is a state in India, where some 70 million people live. Following a train fire that killed 60 Hindu pilgrims in 2002, intense riots broke out. Hindu groups, in anger, targeted Muslims, blaming them for the fire. Over 2,000 people lost their lives, mostly Muslims. During these riots, a pregnant Muslim woman, Bilkis Bano, and her family were viciously attacked by 11 men, leading to the loss of 14 family members, including her 3-year-old child. At that time, Narendra Modi, now India's Prime Minister, was in charge of Gujarat, and some people think he didn't do enough to stop the violence.

What happened to the attackers?
Fast-forward to 2008, the attackers were given life sentences. But in a controversial twist and thanks a to a review committee in Gujarat state (filled with members from the current ruling party; that of Narendra Modi's), they got out in 2022 because of good behavior and time served. They were even celebrated by a right-wing Hindu group with sweets and flowers upon release. This decision caused a huge uproar in India. Bilkis Bano herself and many activists, politicians, and journalists filed petitions against this ruling by the end of the same year.

And Bilkis Bano?
Despite being pressured to stay quiet, Bano stood up as a symbol of resistance and justice. Her fight for justice became an inspiration for others affected by the 2002 violence. In 2019, she received a significant compensation, a house, and a government job from India's top court. She plans to use this to help other women survivors and educate their children. She also hopes her daughter becomes a lawyer to fight for women's rights.

What now?
Bano said the order to put these offenders back in jail brought her "tears of relief." Her uncle, Abdul Razzak Mansuri, spoke to Al Jazeera, saying this ruling is a step toward justice. In the words of Bengaluru-based lawyer Yashaswini Basu, "Justice delayed but prevailed." Zoya Hasan, a professor, wrote that this case is more than just about Bano. It's about addressing state violence and communal issues. The fight continues to ensure other governments don't make similar decisions like Gujarat's. Plus, justice has not been really served as Bilkis Bano is one of the 1,958 Muslim women survivors of the targeted violence in Gujarat in 2002.

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The rest of Issue #364 takes you to the Comoros islands (Africa's first election of the year took place; do you know anything about this group of islands?), Morocco (now leads the United Nations Human Rights Council; some people are lmfao-ing), the Amazon (scientists found a hidden city there and this might change our idea about what is culture and civilization) and the Singapore Art Week. We'll also be watching African and Asian football tournaments, a new Netflix documentary on one of the most significant financial scandals of our time and some news on "aliens" in Peru, plus so much more.

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what happened last week - Bilkis Bano, an Indian heroine

what happened last week in Asia, Africa and the Americas

India's Supreme Court cancelled the release of the 2002 riots rapists – "a win for justice"

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