Meet Areesha, a Karachi-based graphic artist, illustrator and a spoken word poet.

Among her recent works is a piece of slam poetry on honor killings that is gaining popularity on social media titled, “try beating me lightly”

The title takes after the Council of Islamic Ideology’s proposed women’s protection bill and surfaced as a tribute, of sorts, to Qandeel Baloch and further lament on the colluded concept of honor killings.

Watch the whole video here:

Speaking about the poem, Areesha explains, “It’s just my catharsis. This poem is about breaking out of societal expectations and violence. Above all this poem is a simple, continuous reminder that women – treated as objects and property all too often – are also humans”

Source: Areesha Khuwaja

“How many more murdered girls will it take for us to implement the bill against honor killings? How many more lives will it take for you to understand that before being your sisters, daughters, wives, we are human?”

Source: Areesha Khuwaja

“As women in this society, we are objectified and viewed as property all too often. I am exhausted. This is my poem is my response to the ongoing insanity. A reminder of a basic lesson we forget all too often: Humanity.”

You can find out more about Areesha here and here.

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