Aurat Marchi in Islamabad clashed with the mullahs
It’s been three years since people from all different walks of life have been coming together to celebrate Aurat March each year and try to get the word out about the dangers of patriarchy. Thankfully, this year around they’ve struck a nerve but at the same time this has attracted some unwanted critics.
Aurat March 2020 began with enthusiasm and an objective to celebrate womanhood
Colourful posters and energetic slogans were to be seen/heard everywhere in the march.
Unfortunately, unlike the beautiful start of the march, something really dreadful happened to try to sabotage Aurat March in Islamabad
While the people in Islamabad marched, they encountered the counter-rally that was organized by members of the infamous Lal masjid, who began throwing stones at the Aurat March.
@BBCUrdu exactly when two demostrations on one road collided. These young men through stone and sticks at women, route of aurat march closed by the police unannounced. #BBCUrdu @AuratAzadiMarch pic.twitter.com/y6rB1J44xg
— Farhat Javed/BBC (@FarhatJRabani) March 8, 2020
Because of the heavy stone pelting by the goons, Aurat March in Islamabad even had to be stopped temporarily
Attackers did not hold back against the police who were trying to provide security and bring about order to the situation and it is further reported that verbal chants of abuse and vulgarity was also spewed by the conservative goons.
When Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa members/supporters started throwing stones at #AuratAzadiMarch participants. No one was spared. Neither police officials nor us media personnels. They were also hurling abuses and vulgar phrases. #InternationalWomensDay2020 pic.twitter.com/Yl7lmer4Kw
— Annie (@aaminsann) March 8, 2020
According to eyewitnesses, the situation got extremely uncontrollable even leading to injuries
Because of the stampede and the tussle caused by the conservative goons, many of the participants of the March dispersed and left the rally in order to save themselves.
THE MULLAHS ARE ATTACKING FUCK
— Faizan. (@merabichrayaar) March 8, 2020
THEY'RE STONING THE MARCH
— Faizan. (@merabichrayaar) March 8, 2020
Mullahs are stone pelting at Aurat March attendees, they have batons too
— Annie (@AnnieKhan_29) March 8, 2020
However, it is thanks to the bravery of the people at Aurat March in Islamabad that the attackers were scared away
as the official magnet for all things insane, I got caught up in today's jamiat islami crowd and hooligans while they were throwing rocks and stones at #AuratMarch. Managed to record the face of one jamati coward.
Itna yeh log dartay hain, ek nihatti larki sey? pic.twitter.com/OKrDK0MQHP
— – (@_maulana_banana) March 8, 2020
On the other hand, Lal Masjid members claim that members of Aurat March were the ones who started the stone pelting
Participants of #AuratMarch started pelting stones at the #HayaMarch while marching toward the D-Chowk Islamabad. @dcislamabad An investigation looking into their actions needs to be done and those involved should be held accountable for creating panic and disrupting the peace. pic.twitter.com/eQhJE1mbBZ
— Lal Masjid Official (@LalMasjidPK) March 8, 2020
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that Lal Masjid goons have carried out their threats
They have been making attempts to antagonize Aurat March members even before the March yesterday.
Lal Masjid goons arrived to violently shut down a beautiful mural painting by #AuratAzadiMarch2020 artists in G-7 Islamabad because of 'fahashi' & 'uncovered women'. The police arrived & asked the artists to stop & leave 'to avoid any trouble'. Barefaced fundamentalist thuggery. pic.twitter.com/wnDEy4Tu00
— Ammar Rashid ☭ (@AmmarRashidT) March 3, 2020
It’s about time that our society realizes that divergent perspectives cannot be a reason to attack anyone. Disagreeing with someone’s stance on a particular issue cannot be treated as a chance to disrespect them. Moreover, for centuries now, women have been suffering at the hands of men who try to scare them into silence and subjugation all around the world. With changing times, thanks to the support they’ve developed for themselves, it’s harder than ever to try to scare women into silence.
38 Of The Most Powerful Aurat March 2020 Posters That You Absolutely Have To See
Cover image via: dawn.com /@ZesHPirzadA via Twitter