By now, most of us have heard about the harrowing case where a young bride poisoned her entire family in an attempt to escape a forced marriage.
21-year-old Aasia Bibi planned to escape a forced marriage by plotting to murder her husband by poisoning his milk. She was forced into marrying 25-year-old Amjad Akram in September. However, it all went wrong when her mother-in-law unknowingly used the milk to make a batch of lassi for the family.
15 members of the family have since passed away, while 12 are still in critical condition.
The news spread like wildfire when it was reported. As it gained traction, International publications picked it up as well.
As the news spread, people were left confused about which side to pick. There were no winners in a case as convoluted as this. There was no right side, to begin with.
Murder is something that is inexcusable and an outright criminal act. However, in a case like this, Aasia Bibi’s motive started being considered. While murder is unjustifiable, what about forcing a young girl into marriage? That is the question that started to cross numerous minds. Social media was, as a consequence, torn apart once more due to a heated debate over the same.
Many people didn’t understand what stance they needed to take on the matter.
Well, in a way can't blame her for resisting barbaric custom. Yet did she really have to poison/kill so many people to make her point?
— Helene Keller-Lind (@keller_lind) October 31, 2017
They pointed out how murder and forced marriage are both wrong.
Poisoning is the wrong way to go, but being forced to marry someone you don't know/like & child marriage is WRONG?
— Shannon Love (@MissesShannonMJ) November 1, 2017
Others suggested Pakistan needed better laws to counter forced marriages to prevent such incidents from taking place.
Pakistan needs tougher laws to crackdown on forced marriages and provide counseling to such girls, so no one has to take a life to resist it
— F. Jeffery (@Natsecjeff) October 31, 2017
Some were very firm with the side they chose to be on.
Hopefully she receives the death penalty, in no way can killing 18 people justify revenge for forced marriage..
— RZR (@RzrKhan) October 31, 2017
And some actually lauded Aasia Bibi for her actions.
I'm still here for Asiya Bibi. She was trying to poison her husband. The family took the milk & made yoghurt then served it to everyone.
— black phillip (@imitationpanda) November 1, 2017
A FUCKING LEGEND, UR DOING AMAZING SWEETIE https://t.co/97AXSPMDrE
— AALIYAH (@NOTORIOUSAALI) November 1, 2017
However, they were soon met with backlash over their stance…
She killed 18 people and a kid??? Lol how is this possibly celebrated
— Dan Taren (@DanTaren) November 2, 2017
are you insane? she killed innocent people and children, forced marriage is more than fucked but this is actual insanity
— keaton (@keaton_scott) November 2, 2017
…with some calling Aasia Bibi evil to counteract the praise she received.
No, no, no! Forced marriage is wrong, but killing is even more wrong. She'll never have freedom now & 18 dead – a child died. She's evil! https://t.co/fMoUl79Ln1
— Jenna2784 (@Jenna_2784) November 2, 2017
Some people also found it hard to accept that she killed so many people “accidentally…”
She deliberately poisoned the meal they were having, how the fuck is this “accidentally killing 18 people”?
https://t.co/MunGFihDjM— Sour Sage (@TheSourSage) November 2, 2017
…and considered what she did to be inexcusable.
I’m not in favor of forced marriages at all, nor am I a fan of the majority of Pakistan’s social laws.
However, this is inexcusable— Sour Sage (@TheSourSage) November 2, 2017
Some didn’t understand how people could support her in the first place.
Can't believe people are actually supporting her. Forced marriage> 18 lives? https://t.co/TWDfyc7DpB
— Mohammed Safwan (@iMoosabhai) November 2, 2017
Others pointed out how we wouldn’t have to condemn this act if we had condemned forced marriages in the first place.
forced marriages par itna bol lete tou aaj revenge murders par itna na bolna par raha hota
— Faizan. (@merabichrayaar) November 1, 2017
Moreover, the need to provide women with protection against forced marriages was also highlighted.
either provide women with proper channels and strong protection laws against forced marriages, or stop seeing everything as black and white.
— Faizan. (@merabichrayaar) November 1, 2017
Many were asked to check their privilege before passing statements on the matter in this series of tweets:
It doesn’t upset you that the social power structure is so fucked up that a girl child felt murder was only way to escape a forced marriage
— Fettucine (@Fatmounh) November 1, 2017
But you have time to rage against people on social media who think what she did was okay. You will use your platform to bitch abt them obvio
— Fettucine (@Fatmounh) November 1, 2017
So uhmm fuck you and your unchecked privilege!
— Fettucine (@Fatmounh) November 1, 2017
And all some people asked for was some form of empathy.
just imagine urself being forced married as a girl in rural areas u r looking at life long incarceration, foced labour and sexual abuse
— tlh. (@stage4donttry) November 1, 2017
However, if it all has to be summed up, the following tweet does so perfectly:
So we are going to glorify that Pakistani girl for killing 18 people??
Murder = Crime
Forced Marriage = CrimeNo one wins here.
— Ayuma (@Ayuma_Analo) November 2, 2017
Truly, in such a case, there are no winners. There is no black or white, there is no correct side that you can choose. It’s all a murky gray area, filled with confusion and immense horror. It leaves one filled with countless questions, with one question ringing through everyone’s mind – how did we, as a country, get here?
If you have anything to say on the matter, share your thoughts with us in the comments.