Out of respect or misogyny: Twitter divided into Team Zainab and Team Rizwan

What started as an applaud for respecting beliefs turned into an argument between professionalism and Islamic values

Sports journalist Zainab Abbas and cricketer Muhammad Rizwan have divided Pakistani Twitter into two teams on grounds of gender equality and religious values. They recently made headlines when the former interviewed the latter during an event recognising the Pakistan cricket team’s hard work organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), where Abbas stood behind Rizwan after allegedly sensing his discomfort with facing the presenter.

Abbas was earlier lauded for her respectful attitude, however, the speculation regarding her intent opened up conversations about women having to leave their rightful spaces for men’s comfort, while the latter would perhaps not do the same.

Since Abbas and Rizwan have not given an official statement in this regard, a Twitter user even questioned if the former’s efforts were out of respect in the first place. “It could’ve been a camera angle issue but everyone jumped on a bandwagon after a piece of speculative news from a publication,” they wrote.

I love how everyone's debating about the Rizwan and Zainab thing, even though it was just a random piece of speculation by a random page. Neither confirmed nor denied by both, lekin Pakistani awaam ne tou behas karni hai xD

— Anees Hassan Khan (@AneesHassanKhan) January 21, 2022

Discomfort or lack of control?
On how Rizwan’s discomfort shouldn’t be lauded, a Twitter user wrote, “Not looking at a woman while she’s addressing you isn’t respect. It shows that you’ve sexualised a woman to a point that you can’t even look at her. Stop disguising it as respect.”

Not looking at a woman while she’s addressing you isn’t RESPECT. It shows that you’ve sexualised a woman to a point that you can’t even look at her. Stop disguising it as RESPECT.

— she (@shee_unicorn) January 20, 2022

The tweet was followed by many conversations. Some people bashed it as an “embarrassing” opinion stating how the cricketer’s lowered gaze does not make him a “misogynist villain.”

Rizwan did not refuse to be interviewed by Zainab. He politely answered all questions asked by Zainab. He just lowered his gaze.

This character assassination to paint Rizwan as some sort of a misogynist villain is insane. https://t.co/TMslHVbsp7

— Naveed Nadeem (@naveednadeem91) January 21, 2022

I didn't see Rizwan asking Zainab to wear a Hijab before interviewing him and neither did he tell Zainab to stand behind him. The innocent man had his gaze lowered out of respect and you are making him a villain. This is just absurd. Why can't you live and let live? https://t.co/LAFzHsFHib

— Ahmed (@AhmedCricManiac) January 20, 2022

trust me it has nothing to do with rizwan objectifying zainab as a sexual object calm down g😭

— Usman (@UsmanAbbasl) January 20, 2022

Glorifying women’s sacrifices
Another user on the micro-blogging site felt that the incident “glorified” a woman who “gave up her rightful place to prevent offending a man”.

Why are we glorifying a woman who gave up her rightful place so that a man is not offended or uncomfortable.@ZAbbasOfficial must have worked hard to get where she is. It pains me to see her concede her space so willingly. pic.twitter.com/jQy5ETxnt3

— T a z e e n تزئین (@tazeen) January 20, 2022

They further said that it “pains” her to see Abbas “concede her space willingly” after working hard to be where she is.

Another user accused the ace cricketer of “using religion as an excuse to devoid women journalists from opportunities” and disguising agendas as discomfort.

Yes use your religion to refuse interviews with female sports journalists so they are not given the opportunity to do the interview next time. There is a field somewhere beyond treating women like pieces of meat or like they don't exist. Pakistani men go meet some women there.

— OhChiefestAndGreatestOfCalamities (@mustyoumustard) January 21, 2022

Mutual respect
While there’s bickering and mixed reactions all over the micro-blogging site, some people were quick to point out that if Abbas or Rizwan felt misunderstood or misrepresented, they would’ve spoken about it. It can be a case of mutual respect and we should leave them alone.

The Rizwan-Zainab interview exchange is just an example of two people exercising their personal choices and acting professionally. There's nothing problematic or extraordinary about it. It should neither be glorified nor criticized. Just let them be.

— Zain Raza (@smzrz) January 21, 2022

Rizwan is like the least controversial cricketer and bechare par gender studies 101 ke thread ban rahe hai even Zainab abbas ne itna nahi socha hoga 😂

— Amina Tarin Tanoli (@amina_tanoli) January 21, 2022

As expected, memes also followed.

Hamara bechara rizwan rameez raja se sharmata hai tum log zainab abbas se eye contact karwa rahe ho

— a. (@AkramaMianoor) January 21, 2022