LAHORE (UCAN): Rights groups and journalist bodies in Pakistan condemned an Urdu-language newspaper in Karachi, Ummat, for publishing an abusive commentary about participants in the annual Aurat women’s march.
“Fourteen countries have the highest rape cases of women. The randies (whores) of Aurat March can’t see these non-Muslim countries,” said the front-page article in Ummat, which continued, “Why don’t they abuse religions like Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism of the majority populations of these countries? Why does their voice rip apart while criticising their teachings?”
Father Nasir William, director of the Commission for Social Communications of the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, slammed the controversial commentary.
“It is unethical to use such words in media. They reflect personal enmity, ignorance and stupidity. There are other ways for criticism,” Father William said.
“However, the women are risking their dignity by protesting on roads and going against the male-dominant culture. Rights cannot be achieved on such platforms. We discourage nuns from protesting on roads. They are different from other women,” he said.
In March, a doctored video containing blasphemous chants went viral on social media, leading to calls for a complete ban on women’s marches and the registration of blasphemy cases against the organizsers and their supporters.
It is unethical to use such words in media. They reflect personal enmity, ignorance and stupidity. There are other ways for criticism
Among those who shared the edited video were social media activists and news anchors with millions of followers.
On March 26, a judge in the northern city of Peshawar ordered police to open an investigation into the organisers of a march marking International Women’s Day over allegations they had committed blasphemy.
In an April 5 tweet, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned “the use of unethical and inappropriate language” against women.
