Reshma Qureshi, an Indian acid attack survivor and model, has spoken out about the ongoing struggle for justice faced by victims of such violence. Despite her success in raising awareness through makeup tutorial videos, Qureshi says the epidemic of acid attacks in India continues unabated, and the legal system lags behind public opinion.
Qureshi was attacked on 19 May 2014 by her brother-in-law, who threw acid on her face in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. She was 17 at the time and left badly scarred and blinded in her left eye. Of the three men involved, only one was arrested, and the trial is still ongoing. Qureshi's family had to sell their business and ancestral home to pay for her treatments and legal costs.
Official statistics from India's National Crimes Record Bureau record 283 reported acid attacks in 2015, with 307 casualties. However, activists say thousands of cases go unreported, often because the attackers are relatives. Tania Singh, CEO of Make Love Not Scars, an organisation that helps survivors, says many victims die before they can report the crime.
Qureshi's experience highlights the apathy of the Indian system towards survivors. She was denied medical treatment until a police complaint was registered, and later forced to appear in court as a witness while undergoing surgery. Singh says the backlog of cases in India is massive, with some survivors waiting a decade for justice. The crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, but conviction rates are low, and in 40% of cases, attackers remain absconding.
Qureshi now lives at the Make Love Not Scars shelter in Delhi, where she receives psychological care and vocational training. Her 'Beauty Tips by Reshma' videos have been hugely successful, ending with the message that an eyeliner or lipstick is as easy to buy in India as a pot of over-the-counter acid. The campaign led to an international petition and a Supreme Court order enforcing a ban on acid sales.
