Filmmaker Jami Mahmood Shares His #MeToo Survivor Story

We can’t let this silence fester.

By Ummara Sheraz | 4:06 pm | Oct 21, 2019
Jami Mahmood

As the #MeToo movement is under attack Pakistani filmmaker Jami Mahmood is out to defend this movement and the laws that enabled this. The Moor filmmaker asserts we can’t let a few wrong actions destroy this movement meant to protect all affected by sexual harassment, not just women.

The filmmaker, Jamshed Mahmood Raza was particularly protecting the #MeToo movement amid intense backlash. This hate towards the movement and Pakistan’s ‘Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace‘ law follows the suicide of a Government M A O College Lahore.

The teacher took his own life after being maligned by unfounded harassment accusations.

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There’s a myth that only women experience sexual harassment, completely shutting the door for men to speak out. Moor filmmaker shared his experience of being ridiculed for his #MeToo survivor story.

“I’m writing this now because #MeToo is under attack and I’m ready to partially vomit out my own experience,”

Pakistani filmmaker Jami Mahmood shared his story of being a survivor on Twitter. His experience 13 years ago made him a staunch supporter for anti-harassment laws and the #MeToo movement.

 

Jami Mahmood’s #MeToo Survivor Story

The O21 filmmaker revealed that his rapist is a powerful person in the media world.

“I was brutally raped by a very powerful person in our media world. A giant actually. And yes, I’m taller than him but I froze, not sure why. Yes, it really happens and happened to me,”

 

In fact, Jami Mahmood was actually friends with this man prior to the attack. He couldn’t fathom that this friend would be the one to violate him. His rapist even had the nerve to show up at his father’s funeral robbing him of the chance to mourn his father in peace. Jami further elaborated that this man could attend book and museum launches with him.

Like many instances of sexual harassment and rape crimes against men no one believed Jami Mahmood. They dismissed the issue let alone do something about it.

That’s when the filmmaker sought psychological counseling at Agha Khan Hospital. He spent six months in therapy and was put on Xanax. Jami even tried leaving the country for a month to try and flush this out of his system.

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While Jami Mehmood is now strong and brave enough to share his story. He still isn’t courageous enough to say his violator’s name.

“Till this day, I don’t have the courage to come out and name him. It’s super tough,”

 

Government M A O College Lahore Suicide

Jami then addressed the recent case of a Government M A O College Lahore professor committing suicide on unfounded claims of harassment.

The filmmaker called out those that are trying to use this tragic incident to silence sexual harassment victims.

“One wrongful death doesn’t mean all victims are fake and liars. I’m pissed that they are attacking the movement and victims so I’m coming here today after 13 or so years to say 99.99% survivors are telling the truth always. No doubt ever!”

 

 

Those alleging that the professor was persecuted for false accusations are wrong. Under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace‘ law every workplace is obligated to have an Inquiry Committee to investigate complaints filed with them.

MAO College professor reached out to the Inquiry Committee requesting damage control

When a group of students filed complaints the Inquiry Committee’s findings proved the professor to be innocent. That should have been the end of that. Yet the rumors were propagated to the point where the professor’s rapport had been maligned.

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This hearsay and rumors are what drove the professor to suicide. The university admin stalling the clearance process just added to that. Even the Inquiry Committee should have controlled the damage.

That’s why Jami made it a point to bring up Mukhtaran Mai’s case. The woman is internationally lauded for fighting against rape and sexual harassment. Yet even her rapists were set free.

“Ask Mukhtaran Mai how it feels when the system doesn’t see a gang rape or victim or evidence or after conviction, lets go the convicts. We find one sad case and that too has university admin fault partially for stalling the clearance process. System failed him too. Truth! Stand for all victims all the time and it will be fixed. Selective activism is unjust.”