A new day, a new hashtag.
For the past few weeks, we have seen many new hashtags erupting, except these hashtags are so much more than just a symbol of 'trending'. They signify a new death, a new investigation and of course; a family that has lost its loved one. Most women are not fortunate enough to get a hashtag, their horror stories are buried with them and their oppressors roam freely.
Saima. Noor. Quratulain. Bushra. Zainab. Every day a new victim emerges. The cassette repeats itself daily. Women in Pakistan are beyond unsafe, and unfortunately, it has always been this way. To be a woman in Pakistan, you must withstand every form of abuse. What's worse, speaking up about your story will only result in you 'seeking attention'. The situation is so much more than gender repression or religious oppression. It's a matter of security.
A common misconception among women is that literate men are not the cause of such monstrosities. Zahir Jaffar, a fully educated man who was also leading one of the country's top companies, is an example of how it is not your education but your mind set which determines your actions. Beheading a woman just because of her choices in a relationship, is just a tiny insight into the horrors women have to face every day.
Living in a country where 'hurting' a male's fragile ego can result in you quite literally being beheaded, one does not know even where to begin with. The system, the mind set, everything is at fault and most importantly, men who choose to remain silent over this issue are contributors. Yes, they contribute because their silence is active complicitness. I have personally seen many men who will actively post about a football league or a cricketer's performance but will remain silent over women's oppression because 'they do not want to take sides'. This is an example of cowardice. Not having enough courage to stand up for what is right and to accept the faults in your collective is a symbol of cowardice. It shows that you are not brave enough to realise your mistakes and call your friends out for their everyday oppressive behavior. Being a man does not mean you are superior, the history of women's oppression in Pakistan has proved that.
A rape victim, is seen to have lost her family's dignity, and the rapist runs loose with no one to question their dignity. There is no punishment for men who ruin women and whilst influential families urge the media to forget about the incident, the victim does not ever forget.
Catcalling, groping, staring, violence, and rape cannot and shall never be justified. It is our moral obligation to stand up against these monstrosities. And it is also high time we stand up for each other to create a safer environment for women.
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