Living as a woman in Pakistan means you have to constantly manoeuvre yourself through a hostile environment, but this past week has been particularly traumatic. The gang-rape of a woman on a motorway in Lahore has once again reminded us that Pakistan is unsafe for women, and our collective response has revealed why.
This woman was not raped because she was on a particular motorway at a specific time. She was raped because her assailant made a conscious decision to commit a brutal act of violence. In victim-blaming, not only is it simply cruel, alienating an individual who has had a grave act of violence committed against them, but it is also self-defeating. It is in our own best interests that we create an environment in which as many victims feel comfortable enough to come forward. Prime Minister Imran Khan, in the midst of calls for a public execution, stated he is in support of chemical castration as a deterrent in order to set an example for those who may think of committing such acts in the future. While this idea seems good on paper, it only targets those who have already committed sexual assault, had a victim come forward, and in some cases, completed their full sentence and are re-entering society. Calling for castration also negates the role of violence and power with regard to such acts.
We should meet this moment with a much more thorough, honest attempt to examine how we view and participate in the treatment of women in our society and victims in our criminal justice system while specifically addressing the issue of gender-based violence. A public execution would not be enough.
Danyal Khan
Ireland
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2020.
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