NEW YORK — An Indian teenager lost her eye and her face disfigured in an acid attack has received a huge response regarding her runway walk in New York Fashion Week (NYFW). Reshma Qureshi, who is just 19, strides the runway without ease on the first day of NYFW on Thursday.
Two years ago, she was only 17 when an acid attack by four men changed her life. She was protecting her sister, who her husband threw acid on her face. Because of the acid her was severely burnt and disfigured, and she lost one of her eyes.
She then joined with NGO Make Love Not Scars. That turned her life around; it took her out of the deep depression she had since the incident. NGO helped her to achieve defiance and fight for justice who are also under the same boat she was in.
In addition, she took part in a video published on Youtube “How to get perfect red lips”, where she starts off doing a tourtial on how to apply red lipstick, as the video progresses, she shows how feasible it is to buy concentrated acid from a store just like lipstick.
Acid violence happens in many parts of the world, particularly India, where many cases of women and children are attacked by acid and patriarchy. Many perpetrators target the head and face where it can cause severe damage such as disfigurement. Although acid attack rarely cause deaths, it has a profound effect psychologically, socially, and physically on a victim, leaving them to deteriorate for the rest of their life. It is still happening in many countries where approximately 1500 cases of reported acid attacks each year. Many suggest in reality that there is an immense case of victims but are left unreported. Despite of the overwhelming amount of victims from acid violence, India has yet to ban the sell of acids in retail stores.
Notably, one of the alarming causes of acid violence is underneath tensions of hostility, usually from rejection or refusal by women. For instance, if a man is rejected by a woman he likes or loves, he will most likely result in throwing acid to her face or body to scar her for life, to affect her physically and emotionally. Perpetrators are rarely caught, but when they are, they’re investigated with little care and given a short sentence. It is unjust for victims; these perpetrators are facing a mere 12-month or less and will continue to throw acid regardless.
Reshma Qureshi is a hero to victims of acid violence, and she will continue to advocate on the horrifying reality of what women and children go through.
