Recently, a Twitter user named Minahil shared a rather saddening experience. She took to social media to highlight how she had been publicly harassed when she was younger. Minahil pointed out how she was 13-years-old when she started wearing the hijab. However, at 15 years of age, a stranger grabbed her rear when she visited a bazaar.
Her tweets told the story of how she was subjected to harassment despite whatever she was wearing
In a series of tweets that seemed to come from a place of immensely strong emotion, she went on to talk about how her attire didn’t ensure security.
She further went on to talk about how her new self is better equipped in handling those who are a source of discomfort
Her main argument challenged the belief that wearing certain kinds of clothes can act as a shield against the evils in our society
She also stated how many women weren’t even safe in the confines of their own houses.
Bc jab aurat apne khandaan k mardon se mehfooz nahi tou kaaiye ka parda?
— Minahil (@Sindhibiryani) June 28, 2017
And she chose to conclude by talking about how people didn’t like hearing certain truths
Tou bachon ye hai hamara islamic Republic of Pakistan jahan logon ko aag lag jati hai sach sun k chahe agla banda aankhon se rape karle
— Minahil (@Sindhibiryani) June 28, 2017
Some people lauded her for her effort
Good job lady..?? more power to youuu
— M. (@Mischiefi_M) June 28, 2017
They believed she was brave for speaking out
And some hoped that such incidents would become a rare occurrence
One would think that the focus of the discussion would remain on the topic of a child being publicly harassed.
However, not everyone was in agreement with her point of view
Some chose to attack her for the way she looks
"stranger grabbed and touch my butt " i reckon with such big teeth someone dare to touch ur butts https://t.co/rcHFDTQBDu
— Sam (@salman_maqbool7) June 29, 2017
Others suggested that her being a feminist was somehow linked to everything
Feminist, Secularist & uneducated.
Her Bio Says all. Saying Hijab "Shit" what more yu'd expect from seculars & Feminists? Its usual from em. pic.twitter.com/cpf1nl1wRH— Adi. (@notbaething) June 28, 2017
This guy asked her to do some research
In non Muslim countries see the % of rape cases and then compare it with a religion who is ordering to wear Hijab
— Dr Adnan Ahmad (@DrAdnanAhmad5) June 29, 2017
Some people actually said that being “touched” was completely unavoidable
Because being touched and being publicly harassed by someone groping your butt are the same thing, of course.
How do you expect not to get touched in such a mess? Pakistani bazaar are even more congested pic.twitter.com/eztO5A7UqY
— Momin (@mur_jao) June 28, 2017
Others pointed out how some things weren’t subject to personal choice, according to their opinion
Beta bs krdo tumhari mrzi ka islam portray ni kr skty hm pehly hi buht Islamophobias phela chuki bs krdo https://t.co/Tzhrue2G09
— hannah. (@itizukhti) June 29, 2017
There were also a few who wanted some clarification regarding her stance
It's sad that this happens in society but your stance against Pardah sounds as if Parda is the cause of this evil?
— Makorro ? (@makorro) June 28, 2017
And there were those, too, who told her that taking off the hijab may not be the best solution
To mai apko ye btaungi k mery sath b aisa buht hua aur tm akeli ni ho sb k sath hota hy iska mtlb ye ni k nanagay hojao.sbr aur hosla rakho https://t.co/iZ9ZX6laue
— hannah. (@itizukhti) June 29, 2017
Women have long been policed when it comes to their attire
The fact that she was subjected to moral policing is not all too surprising. Women all around the world are subjected to it, whether it’s in the form of a ban on Muslim women wearing burkinis in France or in the form of slut-shaming and age-shaming in our own country.
The unfortunate aspect is that the moral policing took away from what Minahil seemed to be pointing at: the clothes you wear may not necessarily ensure your security.
Talking to MangoBaaz about the backlash she faced for her tweets, Minahil stated that she is more or less used to handling such situations. However, she was a bit taken aback by how she was shamed for her tweets. In response to all those who believe she was speaking against religion – which she clarifies that she wasn’t – she said:
“Khuda uper sirf humein saza dene k liye nahi betha.”
Women getting harassed – with or without donning a hijab – is a conversation that our society needs to have. Perhaps, it takes such strongly worded messages to get us thinking and jolt us awake from our slumber of blissful ignorance.
What do you have to say about this whole situation? Share your opinions with us in the comments.