You treat minorities like Muslims are treated in the west: Anoushey Ashraf

Trending no 1 on Pakistani Twitter, a Karachi-based bakery is currently facing harsh criticism by netizens and celebrities for their bigotry and discriminatory mindset. This social media outcry is due to their reported refusal to write “Merry Christmas” on cakes at their outlets.

The problem was initially reported by a woman against their Khayabane Jami branch, on a Facebook group called Voice of Customer PK. However, it later turned out that all branches across Karachi have been practising the same behaviour. Now, another bakery has been called out for the same discriminatory behaviour.

Actor and VJ Anoushey Ashraf is of the strong opinion that “writing something for someone else's faith doesn't make my faith weak.” Shedding light on the incident and schooling netizens on their hate-mongering and hypocritical behaviour, she commented, “If I write Merry Christmas, which by the way means ‘Happy Birthday to Christ’, it doesn't mean I have faith that he's the son of God. If the western world tomorrow says that Eid is un-Christian like and they don't believe it and no Muslim can get an Eid Mubarak cake on the basis of this explanation, then the hue and cry would be real.”

Ashraf reminded the workers in the bakeries that it is simply their “job to write wishes for the customers.” Highlighting that respect goes both ways, she added, “The person wanting the cake deserves respect before what you ‘believe’. Religion connects people, it brings us all closer, and it makes us love. These clergies have only helped create such division where people in the comments sections are abusing one another. Religion is once more at the forefront of division amongst people.”

She herself visited the Boat Basin branch and is “offended as a Muslim”. She suggests the bakery to “lead by example and get over their personal biases.” She also called them out for “treating them (minorities) just like Muslims are treated badly in the West.”

Actor Sanam Saeed also expressed her shock at the incident and took to her Instagram story and shared, “The white in our flag represents solidarity with our minorities. We should start practising inclusivity and respect.” Tagging both bakeries, she added, “If it’s true that both bakeries refused to write ‘Merry Christmas’ on customer cakes then shame on you. And if it’s a policy then it needs to be revised as soon as possible.”

Bringing a stark reminder of our realities, actor Ramsha Khan shared a picture of Quaid-e-Azam’s vision for Pakistan as a “free country for all religions.” Pointing out the irony, she tweeted, “Have these bakeries forgotten what the white in the #Pakistan flag stands for?”

Surprisingly, this isn't the first time that the company faced backlash over the refusal to 'do the icing'. In 2018, a woman was refused the 'Merry Christmas' icing and told that it was so, on the "company's instruction.”

Being one of the few most sought after places to get desserts from, these bakeries do not realise their contribution to promoting hate in a country where people lynch others in broad daylight without any proof of blasphemy. It’s only teaching people intolerance and giving out the message that non-Muslims are not welcome in the country. It’s 2021– we shouldn’t be having debates about whether to wish a religious minority on their special occasion.

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