Activist Shaniera Akram is known to say it like it is and not hesitate to call out the injustice she sees around her. However, Akram’s latest tweets haven’t gone down well with Twitter users, who have accused the activist of pandering to men at a time when the focus should solely be on amplifying the concerns of women.
Following the violent assault of a female TikToker by over 400 men at Greater Iqbal Park, Lahore, during Independence Day celebrations, several prominent celebrities were prompted to speak about their shock and anger over the incident. However, Akram’s post in support of men has left users on the micro-blogging site rather disappointed.
The activist wrote, “My heart goes out to all the good men of Pakistan. I’m sorry so many of your brothers have failed you.” The tweet was met with backlash due to the fact that it decenters women in the conversation on violence and sexual assault.
My heart goes out to all the good men of Pakistan. I’m sorry so many of your brothers have failed you 💔
— Shaniera Akram (@iamShaniera) August 19, 2021
One Twitter user wrote, “This is so incredibly tone-deaf of you to say. I'm honestly disappointed. Pakistani women suffer through so much, it is our struggle that needs to be highlighted, not the ‘Not All Men’ bandwagon.”
This is so incredibly tone deaf of you to say, I'm honestly disappointed. Pakistani women suffer through so much, it is OUR struggle that needs to be highlighted, not the "Not All Men" bandwagon.
— S. Bareera Bukhari (@Bareera003) August 19, 2021
Another offered a correction of the original tweet. They wrote, “Corrected tweet: My heart goes out to all the women of Pakistan. I’m sorry men have failed you.”
Corrected tweet
— Nazrana Yousufzai (@nazranayusufzai) August 19, 2021
My heart goes out to all the women of Pakistan. I’m sorry men have failed you 💔
One disappointed user replied with a quote, writing, “‘All men benefit from the actions of bad men. The existence of bad men grants ‘good’ men or men just doing the bare minimum awards just for being decent people’.”
"All men benefit from the actions of bad men. The existence of bad men grants ‘good’ men or men just doing the bare minimum awards just for being decent people."
— Mrs Dev Patel (@Wroksha) August 19, 2021
Calling out the ill-timed nature of the tweet, a post read, “I can recall so many instances where so many men behaved like they own the place or the woman or the child or the goat. Don't know about the good men. Men will never understand what a woman goes through every day. And these are the worst of the times to sympathize with men.”
I can recall so many instances where so many men behaved like they own the place or the woman or the child or the goat. Don't know about the good men. Men will never understand what a woman goes through everyday. And these are the worst of the times to sympathize with men.
— Zainab Sajjad 🇵🇸 (@ZainabSajjad1) August 20, 2021
Highlighting the valid concerns of women, a social media user tweeted, “My heart goes out to all the women of Pakistan who constantly find themselves on the receiving end of assaults, violence and beheadings.”
my heart goes out to all the women of Pakistan who constantly find themselves on the receiving end of assaults, violence and beheadings. https://t.co/WezwGbDtQI
— d kamal (@daanistan) August 19, 2021
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