Qadri urges PM to ban ‘anti-Islam slogans’ during ’Aurat March’

Religious affairs minister asks premier to mark ‘Int’l Hijab Day’ on March 8 to highlight issues of religious freedom

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri has urged the government not to allow any organisation or individual to raise “anti-Islam slogans” during ‘Aurat March’, which is held by Pakistani women all over the country on the International Women’s Day (March 8).

The minister wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Feb 9, asking him to mark the ‘International Hijab Day’ on March 8 to express solidarity with the Muslim women facing issues of religious independence and basic human rights across the world.

He pointed out that some so-called human rights activists and organisations took out rallies under the banner of ‘Aurat March’ to highlight the issues being faced by women globally. “But they totally disregarded the problems being faced by Muslims, as their banners, placards and slogans mismatched with the local social, political and religious norms,” he lamented.

Instead of raising the genuine issues, Qadri claimed that they rather resorted to maligning Islam’s golden principles of life, especially for women. He made it clear that Islam is a complete code of life and women’s rights are highly protected in Islamic societies.

He urged the government not to give any individual or civil society free hand to “ridicule” the divine injunctions, particularly regarding hijab in the wake of ‘Aurat March’.

The minister said observing the ‘Hijab Day’ would help draw the attention of the international community, including the United Nations towards physical and psychological maltreatment of women, especially the Muslim students in India and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) at the hands of Hindu extremists having the full backing of Narendra Modi-led government.

Also read: Explainer: Why is the Aurat March so controversial?

He said Pakistan should ask the UN to play its due role in preventing the ongoing inhuman acts in India keeping in view the Muslims religious independence.

Qadri said to make the Hijab Day a successful event, programmes should be organised at federal and provincial levels, and the human rights and information ministries be directed to prepare a consolidated strategy on the matter.

Reacting to the minister’s statement, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said Qadri’s letter seeking “ban” on Aurat March is a matter of concern and astonishing

“What will you [Qadri] achieve by banning the march of women,” she questioned in a series of tweets from her official handle.

وفاقی وزیربرائے مذہبی امور نورالحق قادری کا 8 مارچ کو عورت مارچ پر پابندی عائد کرنے متعلق وزیراعظم کو خط قابل تشویش ہے۔ وفاقی وزیر کی طرف سے اس طرح کی بات حیران کن ہے۔ 8 مارچ عالمی سطح پر عورتوں کا دن منایا جاتا ہے۔ آپ نہتی عورتوں کے مارچ پر پابندی لگا کر کیا کیا ثابت کرے گے؟1/3 pic.twitter.com/sy3LLxlHUd

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) February 17, 2022

The senator said no one has opposed celebrating Hijab Day in Pakistan. “On the one hand, we condemn the attitude of India and on the other, you are talking about banning the women's March.”

Rehman said that the International Women's Day aimed at raising awareness in the society against gender stereotyping and prejudices against women. “You are conspiring to deprive women of their freedom and rights on the International Women's Day,” she added.