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Burka Avenger: Why criticise the effort just because of the burka?

Burka Avenger: Why criticise the effort just because of the burka?

Mocking the effort because of the burka will not make you liberal and cool. Appreciate for once instead of making fun.

Ema Anis July 26, 2013

Imagine a young Pakistani girl. She lives a normal life; maybe she is just a reporter like Superman. She dresses pretty much like every other Pakistani girl. There's nothing unique about her. Except.. wait! She is a superhero!

She takes on evil villains by using her superpowers, while wearing a disguise. Because, duh, every superhero has to wear a disguise. They must protect their identity.

Here's a picture of the super-girl chilling at Karachi beach:

Photo: Ema Anis

Err. Sorry. Wrong disguise.

Maybe, this?

Photo: Ema Anis

Um. I'm not so sure...

Something just doesn't gel here. What's the problem?

Well, there's nothing specifically wrong with these superheroes except for the fact that they are not really 'Pakistani' looking - their attire is out of place. We don't do many swimsuits or knee length skirts here do we? No matter how hard I try, I just cannot imagine a Pakistani superwoman fighting the Taliban in say, Sohrab Goth, wearing these clothes (*shudders at the thought*).

Recently, though, I came across this incredible video for a brand new female superhero for the twenty first century distressed Pakistani. Meet Burka Avenger. Yes, that's the name she goes by.

The first thing that came to my mind was:

"Oh my God, this is excellent animation! Finally our artists are starting to get mainstream. Oh, the quality!"

Photo: Burka Avenger Facebook Page

I was in raptures. The hunger of arts inside me received new sustenance. I immediately shared the trailer on my personal social media accounts, and clocked in a reminder of when the show would air.

But what happened next broke my heart.

I came across innumerable, disdainful tweets criticising the disguise of this local superhero:

https://twitter.com/samishah/status/360323234329145345

https://twitter.com/alizansari/status/360366643022544897

So Pakistani girls will soon have a new role model on their television screens -- a cartoon character who wears a burka
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 25, 2013

@MariumCh true - the women need a role model - IMO a girl in a shalwar would have sufficed. Women fighting in Burkas? Eh.... @omar_quraishi
— Mishal (@VaultBoy83) July 25, 2013

What I interpreted from the tweets was:

"Burka! Burka! Bad burka! No burka! Why burka? This burka and that burka."

But wait, isn't this really good animation, very creatively produced with a positive idea promoting education?

No, the highlight of this great breakthrough is the fact that the main character wears a burka!

Being an ardent appreciator of art, this was so depressing for me. Rarely on this side of the world do we come up with something local, something creative, something original, and when we do, all we can think of doing is criticising this success.

What's so wrong with a burka anyway?

And if it's okay to call a veiled girl "ninja" after superhero cartoons - why is it wrong to name a veil clad superhero Burka Avenger?

This superhero is inventing her own type of martial arts. She looks like a ninja and fights crime wearing a dress that helps her hide her identity and blend into the crowd simultaneously. The character itself, the 'ordinary' girl behind Burka Avenger, is not hijabi. Her superhero costume is just that - a "costume".

I'm a feminist myself and I believe in giving all due rights to women. But I ask again, what has a burka got to do with freedom? How can this piece of attire restrict freedom?

Personally, I feel more free with more clothes on; I would feel suppressed if I'm forced into shedding a piece of cloth I'm comfortable in.

My colleague who sits next to me wears a burka. No one else in her family does, and according to her, her choice has nothing to do with religious reasons. She wears the burka because she's 'too lazy to dress up every morning'. On other occasions, she chooses not to wear the burka and dresses differently.

My mom wears a burka occasionally; no one forces her to. When she's cooking in the kitchen, still in her night-suit, and needs something quickly from the nearby market, she'll pull on her burka and be back with her stuff within 10 minutes. What's wrong with her being comfortable with this practice? I highly doubt she feels oppressed or restricted by this habit!

I'm all for freedom and I believe that the burka is not the opposite of freedom.

Yes, I agree we live in a patriarchal society where women get negligible rights; yes, I have seen this phenomenon with my own eyes; I have gone through it myself, but creating a hype about non-issues like a burka clad animated character when we have real issues badgering us every second is not going to help!

Condemning Burka Avenger will not make you 'cool and liberal'. I think this innovative cartoon series is an excellent effort. It's unique, it's Pakistani and children will be able to relate to it. And please, I highly doubt that any girl will feel compelled to wear a burka after watching a cartoon who does. Stop criticising just for the heck of it.

She's fighting all the bad men - the "Vadero Pajeros". Be happy with that!

WRITTEN BY:
Ema Anis

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

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COMMENTS (60)

T-Fox | 11 years ago | Reply a very good read,finally some article on the middle grounds between so called liberal and islamist fanatics.you spoke my mind!

Anum | 11 years ago | Reply Why so much angst abt the Burka? I do not wear the burka but theres nothing oppressive about it. If someone wants to wear it they can and if not then they dont have to. The way I see it, its not the burka thats oppressive its the people who use it as a tool to oppress women. It is used as an oppresive tool just like religion has been used for 1000s of years, does that mean religion is oppressive?

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Charlie Chapatti | 11 years ago | Reply Unfortunately feminists tend to force their point of view down other peoples choice.

Makola | 11 years ago | Reply My mum dons a burqa, juggles both work and home and to this day, she's my super hero :D

KAY | 11 years ago | Reply @ Minahil Waqas: To hide identity there is no need to hide full body under an arabic burka. A face mask is enough.

Minahil Waqas | 11 years ago | Reply @Shumaila malik: She is in a shalwar kameez during the day! The Burka is her disguise! One which is quite genius if you think about it as it shows that not all the women who wear the Burka are oppressed and restricted. Also the Burka has been shown as a disguise only; she doesnt wear it because shes a devout muslim. It's not linked to religion! It is for the sole purpose of masking her identity. Also I think this cartoon is the opposite of misogyny! Its promoting the fact that women are more than capable of defending themselves and others. We are probably the first muslim country to have a female superhero, which is a refreshing change from other pakistani male-dominated cartoons such as Commander Safeguard.

MA | 11 years ago | Reply the comments on this post show that people are so scared of Islamization that they are calling these efforts brainstorming of the children. Is wearing burqa that bad ?? huh! If you people are not in the favour of burqa its fine but calling it brainstorming and brain washing shows to the world that how much you people afraid of Islamization !! Secondly people wont stop their children from watching cartoons in which the super heroines are half naked. why?? what kind of message are those cartoons bringing then??

Col. Nicholson | 11 years ago | Reply The irony is that even the right-wingers are bashing this show as anti-Islam/anti-Pakistan brainwashing propaganda etc. Personally, I think we all should just calm down and see a few episodes at least before making any radical judgments. The writer's point, that this is a locally produced animated show hence deserving some credit, is valid. As far as burka is concerned, one of my junior team members at office who used to dress somewhat 'liberally' recently started wearing burka since last 3-4 months. None of us inquired to this change of attire as it was her personal affair. Didn't really make much difference - she's still the same professional, hard-working girl she was before.

bla | 11 years ago | Reply i just dont like the name "BURKA AVENGER" it sounds stupid

Faraz Talat | 11 years ago | Reply

"I’m all for freedom and I believe that the burka is not the opposite of freedom."

It is the definitional opposite of freedom. What on Earth are we talking about? A self-imposed restriction is still a restriction. If I willingly bind my ankles together in chains, and loudly proclaim how it's my choice, would it cease to be a restraint? As for the cartoon, I'm not really that worked up about it. It's fine by me.

KAY | 11 years ago | Reply I am against burka because it is not an efficient dress for an avenger. It will restrict her free movement and it is unsafe. Jeans and shirt is the most practical dress if you want to fully utilize your body movement with safety. Women who lack confidence wear this black robe to hide their identity and a real life avenger will never agree to wear it.

Jib | 11 years ago | Reply Passionate commenting on a show based on a preview and some pictures. The thing hasn't even aired yet! Wow. It says more about what the Burka represents rather than the show's content. As far as I'm concerned the real hero is Burka Avenger's other guise - a female teacher who believes in children's right to education, tolerance towards all, and a concern for the environment: imbuing these wonderful and universal ideas to the children in her class room. And just for the record: she doesn't wear a burka or a even a dupatta when she is her all important alter ego, just a simple salwar kammez. I had the honor of watching the first episode prerelease...and I laughed my behind off! I found it wonderfully charming, endearing, and lots of fun, even as a adult.

Reema Ejaz | 11 years ago | Reply BURQA avengers?! BURQA gasps noooo waaay ! we'd rather spend time watching CHOTA BHEEM cause its HINDU and INDIAN :P.

Mansoor | 11 years ago | Reply I may add some knowledge here for sake of educating people, who are continuously pointing bad things in our society/country where name of religion is used. And they find the opposite of "that happening" as role model to be pursued. The people who understand and read religious teachings to understand true meaning, they know that most of such happenings are mainly culture oriented in specific areas but done in name of religion. So stop criticizing religion itself for something you haven't tried to understand (and sorry to inform you guys that yes, we are "individually" answerable for how much we tried to learn religion and how much we followed commandments of our Creator. It is told to us as "Farz" to strive and struggle to get actual knowledge). Secondly, if you please stop being pessimist about our own country, culture and society as a whole. Where you haven't found bad happenings in the world?. The most cultured and role models to teach you rules of "liberalism" are all clean?. Go and check world's top crime rates list, worlds top rapes happenings and so many psychologically disordered people doing insane things in those societies which you consider as "role models to follow". It is just that there is good and bad in every society. Our bad are more elaborated these days because we are under attack of "media war and propaganda" since so many years. Our region in general is under attack since last 20+ years and we are facing consequences of international interests to control and influence our region. But believe me, still in "most of our places" government still don't need to "publicly announce" to keep some cash in pocket while going out or someone may kill you. The societies you get inspiration from has been doing it and still do face it. Yes there are bad happenings in our society because of extremism fed in our society in name of religion, but people who actually try to strive as per commandment of Allah to learn the religion can differentiate a lot of things from religion and cultural influences. And we still as a whole may not has frequency of bad happenings which those "groomed women rights" society ultimately produce. In name of all liberalism, what they have given to women is all good?. Is it so?. In name of religion (the true teachings) what Islam has given women is all bad? (ask the liberal ones who learn and practice, the ones who know religion very superficially shouldn't comment on it. We never comment a heart surgeon on his diagnosis because we don't consider ourselves literate enough to comment on it but to any big or petty matter related to religion we find ourselves as most literate ones without even learning a single bit by striving to know all aspects of it. Is it fair and true liberal meaning of argument that we argue "just on base of your inside thoughts and desires" without knowing or learning true sense given by religion on something. To support our such superficial arguments we just point out bad happenings happened somewhere to don't exactly know what true reasons or may be just because of someone who didn't learn religion and made a decision just like "based on own desire or thoughts of religion" and we are fine to make it our argument. Please we should be fair enough to learn religion if we choose to call ourselves "Muslims".

Faraz | 11 years ago | Reply @Sidra siddiqui: So what do you want? you don't want further Islamization? So what do you wanna show your children, a cartoon in a Bikini instead?

mind control | 11 years ago | Reply I’m all for freedom and I believe that the burka is not the opposite of freedom. But then why do we have the Mutaween in Saudi Arabia flogging women for not being in head to toe Burka? I guess they must be defending the 'freedom of women'. Perhaps the most serious and widely criticized incident attributed to them occurred on March 11, 2002, when they prevented schoolgirls from escaping a burning school in Mecca, because the girls were not wearing headscarves and abayas (black robes), and not accompanied by a male guardian. Fifteen girls died and 50 were injured as a result. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutaween Whatever.

Mansoor | 11 years ago | Reply For the discussion over a character close to reality feel to fit in society image and which can be related to good extent, I agree with writer. But I wonder what kind of comments I found in this blog. Not naming anyone I may say that people in general here have strong believe that such comic characters, cartoons and media figures do have a strong impact on our children. These characters do add perceptions and images of good and bad and what to do in life to be a role model. Then a group here is saying that "we are fine if our children watch a superhero in bikni or swimsuit to impact our children, their thoughts and values we want to teach them to follow as role model because "we are Muslims". And we strongly condemn and hate any comic character close to any religious feel at all to impact our children to learn any related values or thoughts because "we are Muslims"." "NO COMMENTS, RIGHT???". Is it a confusion on what we are born as and what we want to be?. And I'll request everyone here that stop using terms and words with distorted meaning which are taught to us by western media over last few decades. Liberals and extremists are defined to us as "non-religious and religious" lately and we blindly believe in it and try to pose liberals as those are told us to be better ones. Liberals are those who actually can listen to others, take their opinion without prejudice of their own thoughts and can analyze fairly on arguments for the support of a point of view different from theirs'. Extremists are those who actually can not bear any opinion or happening out of their own perception and start arguing and "shouting", at times without any good arguments on their support. and they are not ready to let anyone say their ideologies are not worthy enough to be followed even if the next person do give logical reasons. I have seen a lot of most educated people, very liberal in discussion while very close to religion in attires and outlook. I actually live with a bunch of "religious outlook people" who are PhDs, doctors and whatever you can think of. They do travel across the world and are very well appreciated along with their outlook for whatever they speak for even as a "Muslim". But yes, they are appreciated by real liberal people who knows that everyone has a right to dress the way they "believe in". And yes i agree, our dressing and outlook is a part of what we want to be and how we want to be known as. You can not really deny this fact that we realize a doctor when the doctor or any other professional worker when they are wearing a uniform of their profession. Our dressing does and should portray wherever it is possible that what we are from inside and what we want to be known as.

Ijaaz | 11 years ago | Reply It is an excellent attempt at getting local and actually creating something that the average pakistani can relate to. Every country has its own customs and practices and animation experts must strive to create something thats local. Just like these phrases : "Bringing home the bacon" or rhymes like "three little piggies went to the market" or for that matter even poems coming from Robert Frost are things that an Average Pakistani child cannot relate to, even cartoons like a woman wearing a bodice are something the average child in Pakistan or for that matter India cannot relate to, especially in the rural heartland. We must make sure we are not trapped under any sort of inferiority complex and thrust our children something that they might never really understand until they grow up. Otherwise it only looks like forcing someone else's culture down the throats of our children. When they grow up, they will anyways get exposed to multiple cultures iff and when they travel abroad.

Sheikh Saadi | 11 years ago | Reply I’m all for freedom and I believe that the burka is not the opposite of freedom. I am for freedom too, and believe A. The 2nd Amendment is not the opposite of freedom. B. The ban on non-Muslim President/PM is not opposite of freedom. C. Shooting a teenager girl student in the head is not opposite of freedom. D. Flogging women in public for not donning the Burka is not opposite of freedom. Wow, how absolutely freedom loving are we.

Madiha | 11 years ago | Reply Great blog Ema! you have made all the right points. love it!

Usman Anwar | 11 years ago | Reply Someone ask Marvel and DC Comics to stop this misandry /misogyny .They have been covering their superheroes body and face for far too long.Its a sign of oppression, hinders their development and drastically reduce their performance.

Insaan | 11 years ago | Reply @Gingo: Or maybe its because women in balochistan and kpk suffer in silence and don’t report being raped. burqa is supposed to save women from men.

K | 11 years ago | Reply Next time let's make outline of superheros and make a storyline and an animated cartoon. This way Liberals and Conservatives will not have chance to criticise each other for the sake of criticism!

goggi (Lahore) | 11 years ago | Reply A desperate generation in the search of an identity!

Usman Masood | 11 years ago | Reply Wow, Clearly some people simply hate the burqa. Even when its worn willingly. Yes, clearly for these people every woman who wears it is simple-minded/weak-minded/oppressed. Sadness prevails.

csmann | 11 years ago | Reply Any disguise is OK for a fighter.If burka does it,so be it.At least she is fighting the Taliban and others of their sort. It is using their weapon against them.Mullahs and Taliban will still find many things to criticize her anyway.

Ahmed | 11 years ago | Reply Finally content for Pakistan. The show got syndication in foreign newspapers, it put Pakistan on the map in a positive way. Something that is required. Also the purpkse of the show to promote education should not be missed. All of us Pakistanis have a tendency to jump on the bandwagon and criticise. Stereotyping just by a poster/trailer? Maybe Amir Liaqat is all that our children should be subjected to.

Gingo | 11 years ago | Reply @Saad: Aren't you myopic when it comes to 'Indian culture laden' cartoons being aired on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon in Pakistan?

Gingo | 11 years ago | Reply @Mamoon shah: Or maybe its because women in balochistan and kpk suffer in silence and don't report being raped. And man on man rape is fairly common in kpk too.

TJ | 11 years ago | Reply ooooh commonnnnnn !!!!!!!!!! this burka has absolutely nothing to do with religion , BURKA AVENGERS has openly challenged the stereotyped mind set by coming up with animation having a female super hero .... for a first step i couldn't have hoped for anything else.... and yes a super hero in bikini or mini skirt will just not be the right thing ... I am sure those coming up with rantings such as it's another attempt to brainwash kids and relating it to amir liaqat's show have not watched the trailer..... Changing mind sets is important but it has to be presented on main stream media in a manner which is digestible for the larger section of the society... previously ppl came up with ideas like meena ki kahani where the girl is just a perfect too good to be true daughter and a sister... so for starters if they are giving the concept of a mediocre young school teacher as a super hero in disguise i would definitely welcome it and in this case even the burka doesn't trouble me much.....

ISLAM lover | 11 years ago | Reply Your comments only show your hate towards Islam. Are you people muslims? Did you read Shariah?

Rabia A | 11 years ago | Reply Great blog! Burqa Avenger is a great initiative.

Saad | 11 years ago | Reply @Shumaila malik: Wow.. you are so myopic ... how are you even alive?

Mj | 11 years ago | Reply @Sana: "There’s nothing misogynistic about hijab, it’s about draping your faith, bringing your outside in conformity with your inside." In your own words you say that you're (literally) wearing religion on your sleeves. Many people do not feel comfortable with overt display of religiosity. Just so you know, I support the right to wear religious garment as long as women choose for themselves, and are not forced to wear it by their husband/family, which sadly is not uncommon.

Silas | 11 years ago | Reply "Condemning Burka Avenger will not make you ‘cool and liberal’." Everything was fine until this sentence in the last paragraph. What a dumb dumb thing to say. You show with this sentence that you are like those who think that condemning anything religious makes you cool. People are criticizing this for various reasons. Being cool is not one of them.

Sana | 11 years ago | Reply I didnt like the concept at first because I thought that its like making fun of those who wear hijab/burqa, but the comments above show an entirely different picture. An UGLY one, actually. I'm an engineer-to-be and I wear hijab and knowing that this how my society sees me is hurtful. There's nothing misogynistic about hijab, it's about draping your faith, bringing your outside in conformity with your inside. Only if we start to RESPECT people for what they believe in, we can live in peace.

Mj | 11 years ago | Reply @Mamoon shah: "Hahahahaha we are so scared of islam and yet we call ourselves muslims. We have less rape cases in balochistan and kpk thn punjab n sindh. Why is that? Because women in balochistan and kpk cover themselves" Are you saying that the only thing preventing a pious muslim man from raping is a piece of cloth?

deedee | 11 years ago | Reply You spoke my mind! its just a costume! Don't know what's wrong with people!! Its not giving the wrong message at all!

Ahmed | 11 years ago | Reply @ The Author So you work at express tribune and STILL you don't know why is the effort being criticized?

Namaloom Afraad | 11 years ago | Reply Well said.

Ahsan Raza | 11 years ago | Reply "I think this innovative cartoon series is an excellent effort. It’s unique, it’s Pakistani and children will be able to relate to it." Well Said :)

Sunara | 11 years ago | Reply Hahahahahahahah! Despite the obvious purpose of the blog, everyone seems to still be fighting over the burka! Hilarious! Anyway, I really like this idea. In fact I've been wishing Pakistan would produce one since I saw Al Mansour. Good job guys!

Shazia bilal | 11 years ago | Reply The islamists and their allies in the bleeding heart Far Left have got what they wanted.A superhero that promotes their point of view,a superhero who is anything but,She's surrendering before the demands of misogyny in a patriarchal society by putting on a garment that exists only because some people have the view that a woman's body is sinful and needs to be hidden beneath layers of Black cloth.The Burka is an instrument of oppression and no amount of apologia from the islamists can change that.

Uzair | 11 years ago | Reply I’m all for freedom and I believe that the burka is not the opposite of freedom.

Jiji | 11 years ago | Reply And what is really sad is that efforts like this cartoon, while being welcomed and lauded in the so-called liberal West, are always criticised and nit-picked by our very own self-proclaimed liberals. Look at the positive message and the fact that this the first ever such effort created 100% by our own folk. If you don't like it, try and come up with something better next time! Look at the quality of production and the fact they've empowered a woman over here (not another commander safeguard). And at least let the project get off the ground and air a few episodes instead of basing your criticisms on just a trailer!

Bilal | 11 years ago | Reply To be honest very few people would have even noticed the burqa if it was not titled the burqa avenger, rather then just as the lady in black. Its not like wearing a burqa is a bad thing if the lady feels comfortable in it and no one is forcing her to do it. We live in a Pakistan where we just cannot force women to wear burqa especially in the big cities in small towns its completely another story. I think this will bring a new trend of Burqa in the society may even be the fact ladies would feel proud of it or just the fact they look cool.

Jiji | 11 years ago | Reply And lets not forget Dust from X-Men!!!! Thank you Faria Syed! Finally somebody to shut up these supposed liberals jumping up and down crying misogyny at any sight of a burka while forgetting not everyone wearing the burka or hijab or dupatta or even shalwar kameez for that matter (since it covers up doesn't it??) is a subject of subjugation!!! PLEASE, many women C-H-O-O-S-E to wear what they wear and yet they remain liberal and educated! For example some women choose to swim in a burkini rather than a western swimsuit. Now should we stop them from swimming just because they're not dressed according to how we've decided the norm should be??? Who is being misogynic here??? Next time maybe Batman should dress up only in shorts and minus the cape coz I feel covering up men is a sign of misandry of covered men!

Mamoon shah | 11 years ago | Reply Finally some one who can get this message. Comments like so called liberals are extrmists to propegate that look they are abusing ur idealogy. Cant we just stop hating for once@Faria Syed:

Parvez | 11 years ago | Reply That was a fabulous read, you have made it really difficult for the opposition. One of the tweeters said the idea of the burqa was to curtail a woman's freedom.........and this is exactly what the ' Lady in Black ' is disproving. This seem to be an attempt at expanding the debate on the burqa from being a garment which says ' I'm wearing my religion on my sleeve ' to ' look there's more to it than that '............great ! My personal thinking is that the requirement is to be dressed modestly and a lovely shalwar-kameez with a flowing duppatta works just fine.

Mamoon shah | 11 years ago | Reply Hahahahaha we are so scared of islam and yet we call ourselves muslims. We have less rape cases in balochistan and kpk thn punjab n sindh. Why is that? Because women in balochistan and kpk cover themselves. How many ogf u actually read islamic laws? If u don't wana wear burka thn its ur choice its just because u like attention u want ppl to look at u and fantasize u. Our main problem is we were born as muslims nothing much. Whats wrong in islam? I love it when someone call me mulla molvi or watever just because I have a beard. I have beard but my younger brother dont like it. I dint force him for beard. And if u want ur children to have a society like america or europe where 90% of children loose their virginity before they leave high school. If u want to give ur children a society like modern india where rape crime rate is gng way above their heads then ok. You never stopped ur kids from justice league batman iron man wonder woman cat woman. Arent they brain washing ur kids to do violent things. If she wears burqa it means she is representgn her self. It can show real world that burqa isnot stopping our women from dng good deeds. Pathetic liberals u are as dangerous as extremists. Just go and look at their comments on ths burka avenger they are also criticising this cartoon. Both are same luberals and extremists. I jst want a world where my wife and daughters ll nt have to rely on me for thr safety. How many of u read shariat law? If u want real islam go read abt it like west is studying islam.

Faria Syed | 11 years ago | Reply Excellent article, Ema. I have only seen the promo for the cartoon and I see NOTHING misogynistic about it. The teacher wears a shalwar qameez and burka both - proving NEITHER is better than the other. She can be strong and independent in either garment. She uses the burka to empower herself rather than allow it to suppress her. In real life this is not always how it works of course. Some girls ARE forced to wear hijaab unfortunately. However, a positive role model on television could go a long way towards supporting the self-worth of these girls. The burka avengers message seems clear to me: She can fight for herself and others through education. She is not a religious super hero in anyway. Women superheroes are too often fetishized as sexual objects. This is a welcome respite. Burka avenger is not of course the first superhero to don a burka. In comic series 99 Batina the hidden wears a full burka as well. A burka is a tool of suppression but it does not have to be forever. All steps, like this series, to disassociate it from Talibanization are steps in the right direction.

Ali Raza | 11 years ago | Reply Just another attempt to modify our culture.The sad thing is that the islamic fanatics have now stooped to brainwashing children.Brainwash them now,so they obey your commands later on in life.

Abudl Basit | 11 years ago | Reply This superhero is an islamist's dream come true.Subliminal messaging through the cartoon's clothes so that the children don't even realise how they're being influenced.Machiavelli would have been proud at such effective propaganda techniques.

sana habib | 11 years ago | Reply The character could have been wearing a shalwar kamiz but no we had to bring in religion and modify our children's mentality.More islamification of Pakistan.This use of content directed towards children for the purpose of islamist brainwashing will damage our future generations greatly.We need less misogyny in our society,not more.

Batool | 11 years ago | Reply Absolutely love this, spoke my mind!

Sidra siddiqui | 11 years ago | Reply As if all the religious programming on tv wasn't enough already,now they are using cartoons to brainwash our children.This has set a dangerous precedent.Now cartoons will be used to further islamize our society.Now we'll have toddlers wearing the burkas without knowing the misogyny behind the need for a burka.Burka dehumanises women,it's a tool of suppression,nothing more.

Abidi | 11 years ago | Reply We've become to much westernized that wearing a burka seems to much old-fashioned or anti-freedom. It is just the fact that wearing a burka is associated with lower-class family or the un-educated crowd and not the educated elite.We are used to see the educated elite in a different attire than wearing a burka. In my opinion, we should wear whatever we feel comfortable in and no one should judge others because it isn't anybody's business anyway.

Muhammad adnan | 11 years ago | Reply So,now they've resorted to using comics to influence children into wearing oppressive religious robes.Brainwashing young girls so they 'willingly' wear the burka later on in life.The excuse that her identity needed to be hidden holds no substance,you could have hidden her identity by giving the character a mask on the face like other superheroes have,there was no need to give this garment of oppression such blatant legitimacy.

Shumaila malik | 11 years ago | Reply Why not have a super heroine in a shalwar kameez,why make her wear a burka? At the bottom of it all is misogyny,the basic premise of the burka is that a woman's body is a source of sin,the sinful body must be cloaked in a black cloth to hide away the shame.This comic is an attempt to brainwash small children into wearing Burkas,it's an attempt by the religious far right to further islamify our society.

Bina Khan | 11 years ago | Reply It's really disappointing to see that the makers of the comic chose to give her a religious costume.If they wanted to hide her identity she could have been given a face mask,there is no justification for making this a religious superhero.This is nothing but an attempt to legitimise a relgiious garment and another indication of how slowly and insidiously religion is being inserted in our lives.

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Burka Avenger: Why criticise the effort just because of the burka?

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