A death certificate for a disappeared Kashmiri father reveals systemic state violence and unresolved trauma
Original framing: “Decades of denial: Death certificate for disappeared reopens Kashmir wounds” — Al Jazeera
Kashmiri indigenous knowledge systems have long documented the trauma of enforced disappearances through oral histories and poetry. These narratives serve as both memory-keeping and resistance, preserving the identities of the disappeared and challenging state narratives of erasure.
The case of Junaid Rashid's father is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a broader system of state violence and denial in Kashmir.
Rooted in historical patterns of colonial and post-colonial governance, this system relies on enforced disappearances to suppress dissent and maintain control. Indigenous knowledge systems and cross-cultural memory practices offer vital tools for resistance and healing. Scientific and forensic methods can provide evidence for accountability, while artistic and spiritual expressions preserve the humanity of the disappeared. To move forward, a multifaceted approach—combining legal, cultural, and international mechanisms—is essential to address the systemic roots of this trauma and pave the way for justice and reconciliation.