In an already patriarchal society, women of the country have been enthusiastically looking forward to the Aurat March 2020 which has been scheduled to take place on 8th March, marking the International Women’s Day globally. However, a petition to halt the march was filed by Azhar Siddiqui in the Lahore High Court who claims that the Aurat March is being funded by ‘anti-state parties’ and aims to spread ‘anarchy, vulgarity and hatred amongst the masses’. The petition also deemed the march ‘against the very norms of Islam.’
The petition accepted by the LHC has garnered a ton of criticism at the hands of the netizens:
10 year old boy raped by a molvi 100 times till his eyes bled
14 year old girl raped for months by multiple guys
7 yr old girl raped & murdered – her body dumped in water tankTHERE WAS A VIDEO OF A CHILD BEING RAPED IN MADRASA & this is what LHC decides to do – ban Aurat March. https://t.co/WnX2kBBkRO
— ف (@hadhogaye) February 24, 2020
People were also calling out on the LHC:
Lahore High court accepts all kind of trash like legit.
You’ve any bullshit, go petition there and you’ll win! https://t.co/uQzUx4UQoL— Ali Raza (@AliRazarizvi34) February 24, 2020
Facts:
Thats how much the patriarchal society fear women standing for their rights.
— عائشہ (@itsayeshawithye) February 24, 2020
Many called out on the system that treats women like secondary gender:
Tell me again: patriarchy doesn’t exist? Male egos aren’t fragile? Men want women to practice their rights?
This is Pakistan. A country which treats us like a secondary gender. https://t.co/niyt5LP7K6
— Sohaa (@SohaTazz) February 24, 2020
People just couldn’t believe it!
so women having a voice makes you uncomfortable? it's against our NoRms and spreads vulgarity but harrassing them, raping them, killing them in the name of honour, marrying them off at a young age is all normal and decent. How dare someone who isnt a man speak up?? https://t.co/eLnV6yDoPn
— a (@Abbasayy) February 24, 2020
People were sharing how the country thinks that an Aurat March is a bigger threat than rape and other heinous crimes:
IsLaMic RePuBlic oF PaKiStaN aka where women peacefully marching for their rights and freedom are considered a bigger threat than rapists, corruption or every other crime known to mankind https://t.co/P71CM9yVSV
— maham (@ineedcakeplease) February 24, 2020
People were savage!
we're still showing up the dude can stop us himself 🤙 🤪
— Nourves is Rare (@nxurves) February 24, 2020
Many were furious with the freedom being taken away from them:
This is ridiculous! If someone doesn't agree with it, they don't have to attend it. Please stop taking away the little freedom we have left, weird-ass petitioners.
— Hania (@han3yy) February 24, 2020
People were furious:
can't believe i'm forced to live in a country where women can't even express their sorrow and anger towards YEARS of oppression and injustice in a safe space. i am boiling with anger right now https://t.co/pKLT3CuHrl
— 𝐸★⁷ (@ellqna) February 24, 2020
Women were sharing their concerns and what it feels like to be a woman in this country:
can not BELIEVE this. aurat march, where women ask for rights, where women ask to be treated like HUMANS, is being banned but mard march wasnt? mard march where all those filthy men did was degrade women? this country will always be a horrible place for anyone who isnt a man. https://t.co/ydSFMWZXg9
— maybe I havent been looking at the sky (@twinfantasyx) February 24, 2020
Many argued how he should respect the demands of his fellow citizens:
Tell him to let the masses decided for themselves. He lives in democracy where free speech is a right; he needs to learn to respect the demands of his fellow citizens.
— Mishel (@HiTweeties) February 24, 2020
Some thought that LHC should get their priorities straight:
Oh ffs, Aurat march is the least if our problems, LHC should get its priorities straight.
— Fahd Saeed (@fahdsaed) February 24, 2020
Desi men at their best:
Desi men: “Feminists are so sensitive that they give petitions against TV shows they don’t like”
Also Desi men: https://t.co/7hMIYnB6R3
— Dawar H. Butt (@theLahorewala) February 24, 2020
I guess we’ll never find out:
Hey I have a question for Pakistani men what’s it like having to live without a spine https://t.co/LQT189n4gL
— علیزا سکھیرا (@aliza_sukhera) February 24, 2020
People were making comparisons:
Welcome to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where talking about your oppression and asking for rights is considered haram. What's not considered haram: beating women, raping children, murdering and throwing acid on women, burning women because they don't submit or heat food. https://t.co/BbxNNCLgRW
— Hira Najam (@hiranajam) February 24, 2020
Sad:
It’s 2020, yet some men still fear when women march. https://t.co/JAY3G6p0l3
— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) February 24, 2020
Some thought men were scared:
Uff yes, it's happening.
Men are finally scared enough to scurry. https://t.co/R8U8WKVfLR
— No (@Bluemagicboxes) February 24, 2020
People were suggesting that the petitioner consults someone for his fragile nature:
Azhar Siddique sahb should see someone about his fragility issue
— asad bhaiyya (@sadizid) February 24, 2020
People were calling the country a joke:
this country is a joke https://t.co/8SG5bD6I1H
— کائنات 🥀 (@kaymblrr) February 24, 2020
Even the men were appalled:
I love how women asking for equal rights is equivalent to “spreading anarchy” in this country. https://t.co/hZ8zR9nff2
— Talal (@syetalal) February 24, 2020
People were stressing on the fact that things like this make the march even more important:
This is so messed up. Now even the courts of this country can’t stand a woman speaking up? THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE NEED AURAT MARCH. https://t.co/gOoHPLclV1
— Komal Salman (@komallsalman) February 24, 2020
This only reinforces the need for the march. Good job guys! https://t.co/5Zi1wIYsTA
— Oroba Tasnim (@OrobaTasnim) February 24, 2020
Go, girls!
Men and their obsession with anti state and anti islam narrative. Wow, they are scared that this march might instill sum sense into women and they start seeing themselves as humans rathar than objects. #AuratMarch2020 bring it on ladiesss https://t.co/4YOLjuh9GH
— Renfri ❄🐾 (@douxxfemme_) February 24, 2020
People were hopeless:
It's just a petition for now, but since it's Lahore High Court you can't expect any reasonable judgement https://t.co/5mCjcg4wiz
— انصر محمود (@ansar_sahi) February 24, 2020
What do you think about the petition? Let us know in the comments below!