New Delhi: A woman’s celebration of her divorce triggered Pakistani men on social media. Comments exhorting the sanctity of marriage and describing divorce as a dangerous practice poured in across platforms after a clip of a Pakistani woman in the US dancing to Bollywood songs went viral. It wasn’t just the songs or the dance that sent men—and some women—into a tizzy. The wall behind her featured foil letter balloons that read “Divorce Mubarak.”
Shehrose Noor Mohammad, the woman in the video, is an entrepreneur and former Ms South Asia World 2024. Her celebratory dance in a vibrant lehenga to energetic Bollywood tunes was a clear statement of triumph, but not everyone viewed it the same way.
“She is proving that she deserve this,” another commented. Yet another user wondered if God would approve of the song and dance—this was not a ‘halal act’. One man suggested—even though the marriage did not work out, she should have turned to God and not to dancing.
Men were united in expressing solidarity—with the man they knew nothing about. A user named Ifti Javed, based in Dubai, sent “best wishes”—“for BHAI”.
Most of the vile comments were posted under the video shared by a Facebook page named ‘My Home Islamabad’; one user called the woman “correct trash” that the “brother has removed from the house”. Many said the ex-husband was “fortunate to be free” of his wife. Several men speculated about the alimony she might have received and questioned the propriety of her celebration. Comments ranged from congratulating the man for his newfound freedom to criticising the woman for flaunting her happiness.
The irony in attacks
Shehrose has never been to Pakistan or India. Born and raised in Texas, she is new to the spotlight from South Asia and expressed surprise at the international reaction. A healthcare worker, model, emcee, host and stylist, Shehrose dabbles in many fields.
The 32-year-old, speaking to ThePrint from Texas, said she had no idea that the video would make headlines in different countries, although she was sure “it would create a stir within her personal community”.
“The comments in Indian channels were different from Pakistani channels. I think thoughts of this kind can be changed if more people started celebrating getting out of negative situations, whether that is a relationship, a job or a marriage. This is a first of its kind and I did receive backlash, but I hope other people come out and participate in this kind of a movement. More people need to come out and support things that are ‘out of the norm’ and know that it’s okay to move out of anything that’s not serving your higher self,” she said.
In response to the targeted attacks, she posted a series of stories on Instagram, talking about the long-drawn divorce while sharing messages of solidarity from her friends.
Shehrose pointed out the irony of men from a culture that sometimes condones violence against women criticising her for celebrating her freedom.
“It is funny that this comment section is coming from men in a country that applauds killing their wives, sisters and daughters in the name of Islam,” she wrote, adding that men would rather see a woman “beat up and abused” than happy and celebrating.
Her selection of Bollywood songs came from an obvious place. “I love Bollywood. I’ve been dancing since I was four years old and have also been an RJ and a model,” she told ThePrint.
Divorce difficulty
In Pakistan, women seeking divorce face not only societal judgment but also significant legal hurdles. The country’s legal system, influenced by historical British laws, often complicates the process.
Courts are reportedly reluctant to enforce solutions requiring ongoing supervision, and there is no constitutional definition of a spouse’s conjugal rights.
A common obstacle women face is the restitution of conjugal rights, which husbands frequently use to compel their wives to return to the marital home. This mechanism is now perceived as part of Muslim law, despite its origins in English ecclesiastical courts.
Husbands file restitution cases for three reasons: “to demonstrate to the court that they never wanted this divorce and hence shouldn’t have to pay hefty maintenance; to put legal pressure on the woman and bury her in litigation; and/or to add to her financial burden,” according to an Al Jazeera report.
Moreover, the khula process, which allows women to initiate divorce, often forces them to relinquish much of their “haq meher”—a mandatory payment in Islamic marriages intended as financial security in the event of divorce.
While she can’t make the legal process easy, Shehrose hopes her celebration will encourage others to embrace positive changes in their lives, challenging societal norms that stigmatise divorce.
(Edited by Prashant)