Kami Sid removed as Aurat March organiser following rape allegations

The organisers have however guaranteed their full support for the much-oppressed Khwajasira community

Trans activist Kami Sid made headlines this week, after allegations of rape and intimidation surfaced on social media.

Kami was said to be ‘threatening anyone who would talk about the 'suppressed' 2015 rape case. According to several claims on social media, the Rani actor and her boyfriend Sid, allegedly raped a trans girl when she was 14.

Kami has denied the accusations and will be taking a legal route to address the issue.

Following the allegations, the organisers of Aurat March removed Kami Sid from the organiser's panel and guaranteed their continuous for the trans rights movement in Pakistan.

Our statement on #KamiSid 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/wYvFaWTmvu

— Aurat March - عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) May 24, 2019

"We have been aware of these allegations and members of our group have also been subjected to Kami's bullying tactics," the organisers shared the statement on their Twitter handle. "We removed Kami as the organiser of Aurat March due to these very allegations and we stand in solidarity with those who have come forward with their allegations of sexual violence."

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the Aurat March organisers shared they decided to remove Kami as an organiser from Aurat March 2019 after the committee was made aware of the rape allegations last year. A unanimous decision was then taken to not include her this year.

The statement further read, "We would just like to highlight that the Khwajasira community is an immensely vulnerable and institutionally oppressed in Pakistan. As this conversation moves forward, we must make sure to separate the individual and their actions with the larger community."

Aurat March organisers also asked people to "not generalise, not sensationalise or be transphobic."

"We the organisers of Aurat March, stand in resolute solidarity with the Khwajasira community," they stated.

The allegations have left rights activists and organisations in a conundrum as to how to respond to serious allegations against someone who has been on the forefront of women's rights and trans rights movement in Pakistan.

More clarifications and statements are expected to be released soon.

 

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