Organisers must ensure such posters do not take away the attention of the great cause they are fighting for
ISLAMABAD: This week’s Friday sermon in my local mosque was centered on the Aurat March. The Imam criticised the movement, with special emphasis on placards that read mera jism meri marzi as well as others regarding the female anatomy. He preached how these ideas had poisoned the minds of our women, and went on to reiterate the importance of modesty and purdah as prescribed by Islam. This was preached to more than 200 men attending the prayers and one could tell by the nodding of their heads that they were agreeing to all of it.
This is where the problem lies.
The Aurat March was an outlet for women to voice their frustration regarding the everyday problems they face because of their gender, as well as the systematic abuse and violence women suffer. They also chose to enjoy themselves in a safe public space. However, such posters, as mentioned by the Imam, have drawn a lot of negative attention to the march.
I am not against the purpose of the Aurat March, but the result of the disastrous media outfall has led opponents to propagate a very conservative mindset, while drawing support from religion. The good intention of the march may have reached thousands of women, but the anti-men slogans and graphic posters have had much more far-reaching consequences and may have made more foes than friends in the male population.
The organisers must be careful with future initiatives. In order to gain the support of men by ensuring such posters do not take away the attention of the great cause they are fighting for.
Ammaz Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2019.
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