Larger fight for safety to continue: Survivor on faith healer’s conviction

After a court last week sentenced a faith healer to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for committing unnatural sexual offenses against two minor children during their religious lessons, one of the survivors shared with The Tribune that the “conviction marks a crucial victory” and emphasised the “broader need to address systemic issues that enable such abuse.”

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Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sopore, Mir Wajahat last Tuesday sentenced Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, a faith healer from north Kashmir’s Sopore, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for committing unnatural sexual offenses against two minor children during their religious lessons. The sentence followed Sheikh’s conviction under Section 377 (unnatural sexual act) of the Indian Penal Code, stemming from a case filed in March 2016. The court also ordered the facilitation of FIRs in cases involving five additional victims.

The case against Sheikh was initiated in 2016 when the father of one of the victims filed a complaint.

One of the survivors, now 37 years old and seetled abroad, who was abused by Sheikh in 2002, told The Tribune, “Beyond this individual case, there is a broader need to address systemic issues that enable such abuse. Raising awareness, challenging societal taboos and creating safe spaces for survivors to speak up are essential steps forward. Moreover, ensuring that legal and support systems are more responsive can help prevent future cases. While the conviction is a significant milestone, the larger fight for justice, awareness and healing continues.”

Reflecting on the judicial process, the survivor described it as “long and emotionally taxing, but for all the survivors involved.”

He noted, “Nine years is a significant period, and the delays were challenging. However, the conviction does offer a sense of closure. It reinforces the importance of standing up against abuse. While the verdict is a milestone, healing from the trauma is an ongoing process.”