Anoushey Ashraf calls out alarming rise in extremism in Pakistan, India

Calling out world leaders, the VJ-turned-actor asked them to not use religion for petty agendas

With the rise of religious values taking over national decisions, VJ-turned-actor Anoushey Ashraf took to Twitter to comment on the alarming rate of extremism spreading in Pakistan and across the border in India. Taking to the micro-blogging site, Ashraf highlighted the problematic decisions authorities have announced in the recent past.

On mandated dress codes and policing what people (particularly women) should wear, she expressed her concern at “Pakistan banning jeans and India banning hijabs in schools.”  

Ashraf, a staunch supporter of the female liberation movement and gender parity, is of the opinion that such forced behaviours should not be the norm. “Last I checked we were ALL born free. Can we not have the right to just be, to make our own choices” she wrote.

Pk banning jeans & India banning Hijabs in schools. Last I checked we were ALL born free. Cant we have the right to just be? To make our own choices. Leaders of the world, stop using religion as a tool for your petty agendas.Focus on the quality of education perhaps? #extremisim

— Anoushey Ashraf (@Anoushey_a) January 19, 2022

Calling out the “leaders of the world,” the 38-year-old artist urged them to “stop using religion as a tool for petty agendas.” Instead, she advised them to “focus on the quality of education perhaps.” While she was lauded by many for speaking up about freedom of choice, many bashed her online for not “understanding the Islamic code of conduct.”

Agreeing with her point, a user sarcastically took a jibe at the officials, and wrote, “Wouldn’t that make it harder for them to control the very people? The division is the best way to hold an audience captive.”

While on the other hand, people mocked her for only raising her voice against western clothing being banned in Pakistan. “[In] the world, non-Muslims are trying to remove Islam, while here in Pakistan, Muslims are trying to remove Islam,” wrote an angry fan. “They will never speak on how all private schools have pant shirt uniform instead of kameez shalwar, and sashes instead of dupattas, [while even] in the army we have the Indian sari instead of kameez shalwar.”

This is not the first time the starlet has made headlines for her bold opinions. Her resilient and strong but calculated statements have often stirred conversations of female empowerment even if that means being cursed by a flock of extremists.

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