Sick mentality: Celebs condemn Faisalabad women assault incident

Just a few days after a Sri Lankan national became a victim to a barbaric mob lynching, four women were disrobed, tortured and paraded through a Faisalabad bazaar in broad daylight by a group of men who accused them of shoplifting.

This harrowing incident, a byproduct of patriarchal violence, emerged to dishonour these women’s bodies as a penalty. Several disturbing video clips featuring the shocking assault went viral on social media, displaying a group of men dragging the women as they cried out for mercy. The footage showed the victims being stripped naked, pleading for a piece of cloth to cover themselves and getting beaten by sticks. To no one’s surprise, the bystanders did nothing to stop the horrifying criminal attack.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Nighat Dad, a human rights lawyer said the horrific incident and the impunity with which it was carried out was “symptomatic of cracks within the country’s spotty law enforcement”. However, she isn’t the only one to blame to state for its apathy. Many celebrities turned to social media to condemn the gruesome dishonouring and injustice, turning towards Prime Minister Imran Khan for answers.

Screenwriter, Yasir Hussain shared the viral video on his Instagram stories and expressed his horror at the witnesses’ lack of reprimand. “This horrible incident took place in Riyasat-e-Madina’s city Faisalabad where the women were accused of theft. Everyone just stood there and watched.” He further put the spotlight on PM Imran for the promise of tabdeeli (revolution) he campaigned with. “Is this your revolution, Khan Sahab?”

Actor Adnan Siddiqui took to the micro-blogging site and called the mob violence an “abhorrent display of sick mentality stemming from deep-seated patriarchy.” He said, “The culprits must be brought to book. And we, as a society, must introspect,” with a #nocountryforwomen hashtag declaring Pakistan as unsafe for women.

Ayesha Omar simply couldn’t comprehend the regularity of injustice and wrote, “What is wrong with this country?”  whilst talk show host, Kanwal Ahmed shared her “heart is sinking” thinking of what these men would do to women behind closed doors if they have the audacity to assault, strip and beat women in public. 

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