New Delhi: When top Pakistani dancer Sheema Kermani walked out of the British embassy after hoisting the banner “Ceasefire Now” with reference to the Israel-Hamas war, nobody followed her. But the ace artist and cultural activist, who also appeared in Ali Sethi’s global Pasoori, captured social media attention that gave her full support on the issue. According to various media outlets in Pakistan, she was “ejected” from an event for her ‘pro-Palestine’ slogan.
Shireen Mazari, former human rights minister for Pakistan, praised Kermani’s actions on X (formerly Twitter) but also criticised ‘the pakistani elites’ who did not follow her when she left.
Mazari’s daughter, Imaan Mazari too showed her support, crediting her for her show of courage.
“Whether in Sehwan Sharif or here, Sheema Kirmani has SPINE. Pretty sick that not a single Pakistani there followed her out”, she wrote.
Aurat March too tweeted calling her a ‘living legend and trailblazing Pakistani feminist artivist (activist+artist)’.
“We are so very proud of the living legend and trailblazing Pakistani feminist artivist, Sheema Kermani! She raised her voice for Falasteen at a programme celebrating the birthday of King Charles III, at the British Deputy High Commission, and was subsequently kicked out”, the tweet read.
In a statement to Dawn Friday, the 72-year-old artist said that the function was organised to commemorate King Charles III’s 75th birthday. It was the first time the British High Commission in Islamabad held this celebration since 1951 Tuesday. The event also had other artists, politicians, lawmakers, bureaucrats. During a speech on climate change– which was the theme for the event— Kermani hoisted the banner “Ceasefire Now” with reference to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“They were all congratulating the British Government and the royal family without any mention of the atrocities taking place in Gaza. I just had to do what I did. I couldn’t stay silent. Sadly, when the other guests saw me being thrown out and my leaving, none of them, not even one of them, decided to also take a stand and join me,” she was quoted as saying to Dawn.
According to Kermani, she chose to leave the event on her own accord and was not ‘thrown out’.
Pakistani artist Mohammad Ali Talpur called out the silence of other guests while praising Kermani’s act. Others like human rights lawyer Jibran Nasir questioned the need for such events in the first place.
“I am all for cultural exchange and promoting dialogue amongst countries but I personally don’t see the point of Pakistani elites considering it an honor to be invited by the High Commission to specifically celebrate the very monarchy which occupied and looted our land for over 200 years and lining up to attend such events. Our minds despite education and all riches remain colonized”, he wrote.
“The other Guests docilely kept quiet not wanting to be left out from future invitations at their Sacred place #Shameful”, he wrote.
Another X user asked why, “UK High Commission, the champion of freedom of speech, ejected her for raising mere slogans for Palestine”.
However, UK-based Pakistani commentator and security analyst Faran Jeffery chose to differ. Calling her “a radical leftist”, he called her ceasefire slogan, ‘a pro Hamas slogan’.
“Remember, a vote for ceasefire right now is a vote for Hamas”, he tweeted.
While officials quoted by Dawn said that Kermani was removed for “shouting during “an important speech about climate change in Pakistan by the British Deputy High Commissioner”, a Twitter handle named Pakistan Maholiati Tahaffuz Movement, a political movement for the protection of environment put out a thread stating how Kermani had been their ally and has been ‘using her voice for climate justice’.
“She understands very well that there can be no climate justice while a genocide is ongoing. So, there can be no ‘crucial’ speech on climate change that undermines the urgency needed to stop a genocide”, the tweet read.
Along with Imaan Mazari, another Twitter user remembered how Kermani was at Sehwan Sharif where a suicide bombing took in 2017 at Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sindh, and a day after, artists including Kermani had gathered at the spot to ‘resume dhamaal’.
“Sheema Kirmani is such a queen, I remember her going to Sehwan Sharif right after the blast to perform dhamal. Boss woman”, the user said.
‘Truly a Prowess in the Coward World of Civilization’, another user wrote sharing a picture of Kermani dancing earlier at the shrine, while another said, “Can we say Sheema Kirmani, the liberal, is more courageous than our Ulema?”
Kermani, a top choreographer and dancer in Pakistan has over the years, performed in public despite the growing Islamic conservatism in her nation, receiving praise, threats, and criticism in the process. She is renowned for her attempts to combine activism and art through the work of Tehrik-e-Niswan, also known as The Women’s Movement, an organization she created.
In 1988, she won a grant from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and trained in Odissi under Aloka Panicker and Mayadhar Raut.
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)