Aurat March – An overview

Islam has accorded an equal position to women in society. Islam realized the importance of women and granted them a very dignified position equal to man. Women play a vital role in human progress and have a significant place in society. In Pakistan these days, a debate has been started once again regarding the Women’s March on International Women’s Day. Women should raise voices for their rights; however last year’s Woman March featured feminism as something weird.

Aurat (Women) March

Women’s March is also known as Aurat March referred to a protest which was organized in various cities of Pakistan to mark International Women’s Day.

It was first started in 2018 when hundreds of women came out and raised voices for their rights in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. In Karachi, the Aurat March was spearheaded by Sheema Kirmani and the right organization, Hum Aurtain (We the Women). This idea inspired similar women’s rights organization to hold protests in Islamabad and Lahore.

Many women that participated in the march were representatives of Awami Workers Party, the feminist collective, the women’s collective and other similar organizations.

In 2019, the march has expanded to other cities such as Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Hyderabad, Peshawar, and Faisalabad.

The aim of the Aurat March was to mobilize women at all fronts to ensure that the re-introduction of feminist policies in Pakistan is not limited to a particular group of women and to ensure an inclusive narrative that does not overlook in any form in any part of Pakistan.

What is Feminism?

Feminism is not a disease but a theory, feminism is belief in social, economic, and political equality of genders. This theory at its core is about the equality of men and women. Modern Western feminist history is conventionally split into three periods or ‘waves’, First Waves (19^th century), Second Wave (1960-1980), the current Third waves (1990- continue). All the waves were focusing on different women’s issues and were addressing the issues in various manners.

Controversial Slogans in Aurat March

Pakistan is an independent country and it is normal to protest here and hold rallies for our rights. But in the Aurat March some slogans and demands have created controversies.

Hundreds of women who participated in the marches were carrying placards and banners with some controversial slogans. The slogans were Mera Jism Meri Marzi (My Body My Choice), Khana Khud Garam Karlo (Heat your food yourself), Transwomen are women shut up, Tu karay to stud me karu to slut (If you do it then stud but if I do it then slut), Paratha roles not Gender roles, Man of quality will never afraid of equality, Nazar teri gandi or pardah me karu (Why I adopt veil cause of your bad habits), my shirt is not short your mindset it’s your mindset that is narrow and other meaningless things were made subjects.

Through these statements the society rejected the demands and termed the woman march as a conspiracy of external elements.

Request for banning Aurat March

A petition was filed by Judicial Activism Council Chairman Azhar Siddique in Lahore High Court to stop the Aurat March 2020 scheduled to be held on March 8.

The LHC has accepted for hearing the petition and summoned Additional Director Cybercrime Wing of Federal Investigation Agency and Deputy Inspector General Operations on February 27.

The petition has termed the Aurat March against the norms of Islam and that its hidden agenda is to spread anarchy, vulgarity, and hatred.

The petitioner said that there were various anti-state parties who are funding this Aurat March with the sole purpose of spreading anarchy.

Positive aspect of Aurat March

In addition to the controversial demands in Aurat March last year, there were also some demands that were related to reality. Those demands included peace, health, education, clean water, prevention of abuse, uniform education of daughters, domestic violence and dowry. The controversial banners, however, overcame the real problems of women.

It does not make any sense to tie a woman to the hollow of traditions and women should not be confined to matters of domesticity. Women should also get education, health rights, job opportunities, harassment should be stopped, and they should be recognized as equal. However, that doesn’t mean to criticize the society though controversial and vulgar slogans.