New Delhi: The annual Aurat March in Pakistan has always been controversial. But nothing like the current one. Pakistani actress Nazish Jahangir is now blaming it for the rise in divorces.
Speaking to Pakistani YouTuber Nadir Ali for a podcast Friday, Jahangir called the Aurat March a ‘fake feminist movement’.
“I don’t believe in these Aurat Marches. It’s not benefiting the women we are fighting for. I think these fake feminist movements will never get you justice,” she said.
Without citing any data or source, Jahangir also claimed that the instances of khula(divorce) has increased in Pakistan since the Aurat March began in 2018.
She further said that while she ‘believes in equality’, she is not ‘pro-feminist’, believing it to be “horrifying” that women today get divorced compared to the earlier generation of women who were more “sacrificing” and “patient”.
“I’m not asking women to bear cruelties or abuse. They can leave their houses if they like but at least give it a shot. Our parents are the biggest example of sacrificing and surviving relationships with patience and love,” she added.
Midway during their discussion on the Aurat March and the value of a woman’s voice in the current status quo, the actress said that she still believes in not trusting a teary-eyed woman since she may be leaking crocodile tears.
While most YouTube users heaped praises on her, Twitter users were quick to point out that such arguments are reductive.
The link between Aurat March and rising trend of Khula made by Nazish Jahangir is precisely why celebrities should stick to what they're good at and not comment on social issues which they absolutely have no idea about!
— Dr Izza (@izza08688528) June 3, 2023
The Aurat Azadi March was founded in Pakistan in 2018 by members of the Women Democratic Front, a socialist-feminist organisation. Women’s Action Forum, Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls Alliance, Young Teachers Association, Home-Based Women Workers Union, Awami Workers Party, and Awami Jamhoori Party also marched in Islamabad on International Women’s Day. That same year, a group of women known as the “Hum Aurtein” collective in Karachi and Lahore, launched the Aurat March. The rallies have been held every year since, amid protests and fake campaigns by conservatives.
In an editorial on Jahangir’s interview remarks, Dawn wrote, “Her generalisations overlook the diverse objectives and achievements of feminist movements across the world, reducing them to a single perspective. It’s important to respect all forms of feminism, including marches.”
It said that her claim about Aurat Marches leading to divorces “borders on ridiculous”, adding that her insistence on sacrifice for a successful marriage is “bizarre”.
After facing backlash over her remarks, Jahangir put out a clarification in an Instagram story, stating that although she may not agree with women marches “to a certain degree”, she will stand with “real victims of abuse be it men or women”.
“Opinion is opinion,” she wrote.