Much like every year, there was no shortage of threats towards Aurat Azadi March participants and organizers.
Haya March claims to be advocating for women’s emancipation while accusing Aurat March of provocation to obscenity. Some of the statements the men behind Haya March made were appalling. However, recently a woman calling for violence against women is taking Twitter by storm.
Aside from how ironic it is that while acknowledging Islam provides women with ample rights, Haya March organizers then lash out at women for exercising one such right, self-determination and expression.
One Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal-ur-Rehman faction (JUI-F) speaker Umme-Hassan, even resorted to incitement of violence. According to Pakistani journo, Usman Khilji, the religious leader was heard saying;
“May Aurat March women face the anjaam (fate) that Noor Mukaddam faced.”
JUI-F “Haya Day” speaker Umme-Hassan says at ISB Press Club: may Aurat March women face the anjaam that Noor Mukaddam faced.
Islamabad Police & administration stood watching. No action against such incitement to violence. Everyone has the right to speak but not incite violence.
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) March 8, 2022
Naturally, Twitter is taken aback by the statement.
I understand being “but so technically” is all edgy and contrarian but you come off as v naive if you think the party that has openly encouraged stoning AM, has done so, preaches Noor’s death as a natural & consequence & justification, isn’t inciting violence by these speeches.
— toofani-badtameezi (@thesedcat) March 8, 2022
Astaghfirullah. Disgusted beyond words 😣
— wajeeham (@wajeeham) March 8, 2022
Only #zahirjaffer_breed can say smthg like this!
— Buzz Off (@BuzzOff54796247) March 8, 2022
While some argued that Umme Hassan is just exercising his right to freedom of expression, it is pertinent to mention that Article 19 in the Constitution of Pakistan explicitly states freedom of speech does not extend to seven very specific circumstances. One of which is incitement to violence.
Nothing edgy about it. People are and should be allowed to say these sort of things. In the past, ACLU has defended for the right of KKK to march. Inciting violence and hate speech are two very different things.
— Faisal Naseer (@fnakhi) March 8, 2022
It is free speech you always advocates..
Is say sakht voilenced speeches BALOCH and Aurat march wale karthay hein— Hajra Ameen (@Hajra_ameen) March 8, 2022
Then there are people calling for action against the religious speaker.
https://twitter.com/chickenfajita43/status/1501179799443849223
— toofani-badtameezi (@thesedcat) March 8, 2022
that's an open threat. @ICT_Police please take action.
— thirteen 🦂 (@cherruph) March 9, 2022
Arrest her for hate speech this is a call for slaughter – @ICT_Police – this is heinous
— Sabah Bano Malik (@sabahbanomalik) March 8, 2022
People called out how while the Aurat March had a clear agenda outlining necessary steps for the security of women and to uphold their rights, Haya March failed in that regard. Instead, their speech was limited to vilifying Aurat Azadi March. Particularly, Umme Hassan.
Heard this from my window. Apart from this, several other misogynistic remarks were the whole layout of their speech. Instead of presenting their agenda, all they talked about was how aurat march is ruining the "traditions" of our country
— Rida maryam (@Ridamaryam15) March 9, 2022
People even called out how letting Umme Hassan off the hook for this is conditioning to condone such behavior.
And then they’ll all act shocked and disgusted when another woman goes trending. They’ll say all rapists should get publicly hanged to make themselves feel better. Yall let them get away with these types of comments. We as a society are birthing and raising a big group of abusers
— akia 🧸 (@Akia_06) March 8, 2022
Do you think Umme Hassan would not have gotten off the hook for her statements so easily had she been a man?
