Adverts on billboards
Although such moral policing might begin with seemingly innocent and lawful advertising campaigns, they can quickly morph into something far more dangerous. We saw this happen in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after the election of the MMA coalition in 2002. A campaign against the depiction of women on billboards soon turned violent and with explicit state patronage, vigilantes started tearing down billboards and attacking stores selling CDs. As a result, all advertising, indeed all arts and culture, came to a grinding halt in the province and even now, it is yet to recover from this orthodoxy.
This campaign, when placed in conjunction with the type of advertising we have, shows a public that is confused and unsure of itself. We want both the thrill of risqué advertising while reserving the right to indulge in piety about the state of advertising. That, in essence, is what moral policing is all about and it grows out of a fear that other people may be enjoying themselves in a manner that some may not approve of. Furthermore, and perhaps even more important, is the issue that no one has anointed such groups as the guardians of morality and the nation’s values. That responsibility is left to individuals, who are the best judges of what they would like to view and consume, within the bounds of the law.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (26)
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Do we know that we are heading towards destruction?
@MyHeartSpeaks: That's the problem though right? Both are stuck. The "mullah's" aren't secular educated to connect with those that are and the secular educated have no clue about the religion. It's a lose lose situation. Secular education is just as important as the religion, the mullah's need to understand this, similarly the secular educated need to clue themselves up on the religion. In order to open a route to dialogue if nothing else. Leaving people to their own ideologies, won't lead to a prevalation of truth, just a route to further misunderstanding/argument.
We surely are very pathetic lot!
@Mirza: Mirza its a billboard. They have paid for it. Try not to deviate from the topic of what ET is trying to do just malign Islam.
@sane_liberal: Freedom of expression on your own expense not on the other people's property without permission. The mentality of force and Qabza is not freedom of expression. Regards, Mirza
why are liberal 'educated' class so obsessed with Mullah's ideology. You do your work (of enlightening women) , and let them do their work (of guiding women about their clothing). At the end, truth will prevail.
Even if billboard writing is Islamic, the taking away and using private property is not Islamic. How mullahs are free to trespass private property for free? To the supporters of such writings, how would you feel if they use your walls for their slogans or better why don’t you volunteer your property to them?
I thought these western slave liberals want everyone to have a RIGHT/FREEDOM of expression. And when someone does our media criticizes it?
The editor assumes when it(sic) writes he/she somehow reflects the morality or view of the masses.
There is like in others areas of society e.g. economics, politics etc a blind following of the West.
Western societies has reduced role of the women to mere object of sex to sell products and like in other areas of society this is breaking down the society too. I remember David Cameron calling Britain - Broken Britain.
Pakistan is a Muslim country in need of an Islamic system so that laws of Islam can be applied than man made secular laws who are failing the world!
I am against showing women body unnecessarily. Usually, Our models happily dress in clothes that ordinary women dont in everyday life and those westernised men, in the guise of modernity, praises them for their act and make these ladies an object of satisfaction to the eyes of men. This is not fair with women...still they are not safe, neither from radicals and nor from the so called modern.
Get out of this country if you can. I am sorry to say that it's the only solution
spot on Max and Awan :-)
When we say freedom of expression, then these guys also have the right to express what they feel
Why does this whole debate have to be about the mulla and the modern. What about a lot of us who are being driven around town by our drivers, and are confronted with the billboards? I am not a mulla, and neither do i favour extremism, but our social do's and dont's dictate certian parameters. while i might want to see the lates trends in magazines and in the privacy of my home, i definatley donot want to share that experiance with my driver. Norms are dictated by our social and cultural values. Nobody is questioning the right of any body to wear what they like. But lets look at the flip side. Why question my right to keep a distance between myself and the others who i would like to keep a distance from. At exhibitions, shows and galleries, the choice is mine, as to what i want to veiw and who i want to share that experiance with. But by making it public display, you are forcing me to see that which i donot want to.
@Muhammad: 100% agree. Freedom of expression is a basic human right and (hopefully) enshrined in our constitution. Why take away this right from the opponents of vulgar advertising?
They put up this billboard because the lawn ads don't sit well with them. What if their billboards don't sit well with me, am I allowed to put up still more in retaliation? and does the cycle continue? Does the city and it's laws have absolutely no say in who puts up what or have we in a warped sense, really become 'free' to do as we choose, say as we choose, and point fingers at whoever we choose? This is sad to say the least. Zia's Islamic Republic is a nightmare we still haven't been able to wake up from. That single man has done enough damage to last this country a lifetime. The confusion that we as adult Pakistanis are fostering in our minds will now be plastered all over the city and transfered to the young. Congratulations Pakistan, you manage to outdo yourselves each time!
My advice for "Women Education Society" is to use the word "Haya" instead of "Ghairat". This will InshAllah clear the cobwebs in the minds of people who have confusion about "Ghairat".
Better message would be "Kaprey baicho, Haya nahin".
By the way, I have to admit that some of these lawn ads are indecent...
In the local muslim culture, Sex is taboo and is act is carried out as a revenge. That is why our generations are becoming revengeful. We even call democracy as a revenge.Some one said it thoughtlessly and it has become our slogan. The government has to find out the people behind this campaign before these guys start killing women on the roads as they did in Afghanistan and swat. Nip the evil in the bud.
A mullah can cheat his customers, tell lies to his students, double deal behind people's back, stare at women in public places, treat his own wife like a sex slave but wants to teach women ghairat? He must learn ghairat himself first. Our laws should be toughened to teach these animals how to live like a proper human being.
As long as they're just expressing their views through words and not forcing anyone to believe them, that is their right. I completely disagree with everything they are saying, but they do have the right to say it, and as liberals we must protect everyone's right to free speech, even those who want to say the worst of things.
Unfortunately, it is hard to imagine the conservative right extending the same courtesy to those they disagree with, but we liberals must stick to our values.
@Max: Sorry to say But why you are blaming Mullahs.???. Most of the people with extremists thoughts now belong from educated and middle classes and even elite as well. Dont blame one segment of the society. My some friends never ever wore a shalwar kameez in the past but they are more extremists than those who wear shalwar kameez. I think the influx of the people from war ravaged regions of North West bring the Extremist ideology in Karachi and you can see same situation in Pindi, Islamabad and Lahore as well where the issue is only women's clothing now a days among many people rather than any other issue. The real Karachites and local Sindhis have to woke up and same should be the case with Punjab otherwise Extremism like KPK will gradually creep in the main stream and Pakistan will convert into a Swat. Also this proves that you can snatch weapons from the Extremists but wolves may lose their teeth but not their nature.
In Pakistan Ghairat lies only in Clothing of the women. Other than that we can lie, cheat and do every type of corruption and I never see a board regarding to those ills of the society. It seems Pakistan is made to have a custom design women according to the needs of the GhairatMand Men because other than the obsession of the women clothing i dont think we have achieved anything positive since the creation of Ghairatmand Pakistan.
A mullah can wear beard, have miswak in one hand, and lota in the other including his pants above ankles and three/four women walking behind him as personal private property of the Mehram. But a woman cannot dress the way she likes? I am afraid there is something very seriously wrong with our perceptions of "ghairat." Are we really making social progress? I have lot more to say but better refrain.
Liked the wordings of the billboard !!!