New Delhi: After opening to rave reviews earlier this month, Pakistani show Barzakh — starring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed — has landed in controversy over its depiction of homosexuality. The show, which was earlier appreciated for its stunning cinematography, now faces a boycott call and a viewership decline. It is now being called an all-in-one fitnah – temptation – package.
Director Asim Abbasi, however, is far from rattled. His stand is quite clear — those who find the storyline offensive should refrain from watching the show.
Sharing a comment that castigated him for depicting homosexuality in Barzakh and his 2020 production, Churails, the director wrote: “If you find queer/non-heteronormative storylines ‘distasteful’, please do not watch my content.”
‘Boycott Barzakh’
The debate started after an episode featured the actor Fawad M. Khan, who plays Saifullah, in a scene where he and an Italian character named Lorenzo, played by Franco Giusti, nearly kissed.
What has followed is a public call to boycott Barzakh for endorsing LGBTQIA+ themes, which are at odds with Islamic values.
One X user wants the show to be taken off the air, requesting PEMRA — Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority — to look into it and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take strict action. Actor Mishi Khan has also shamed the cast for taking part in a show that hampers “Islamic value systems”.
“Shameful to normalise the Lgbtq agenda & our stars being part of this kind of nonsense script. Learn to say NO guys if it hampers our value system”, she wrote.
Another wrote that a Pakistani producer’s idea of abstract art/cinema is “basically shoving homosexuality down our throats”.
Also read: Pakistanis can’t get enough of Barzakh’s 1st episode—Fawad Khan show hailed as ‘dark, stunning’
Hitting back at critics
Designer Maria B, who has often been criticised for her views on the LGBTQIA+ community, got another chance to make controversial statements.
“If God doesn’t agree with it, how do the makers of the show?”, she stresses in one video, adding that “the biggest HARAAM concepts of Zina, lgtv Qom e Lut and child grooming are all being glamorised shamelessly in this drama!!”
But many hit back at the critics too.
Sociologist and professor Nida Kirmani schooled a social media user who wrote about the show promoting behayai (shamelessness).
“Art is not made for closed-minded people like yourself. Stick to reading religious texts & watching religious lectures on YouTube,” Kirmani wrote in response.
Others were quick to point out the hypocrisy of homophobic commentators: The abuse and torture of women in Pakistani dramas is widely accepted; lines are only drawn when queer narratives are depicted.
“Ew the gay scene in Barzakh is so disgusting. This is against our culture. We want more shows with women slapped, humiliated and abused that even a family can watch hehe”, one user pointed out sarcastically. Another said: “When our local dramas are promoting domestic violence & normalising saazishien (conspiracies), no one talks about it.”
People also lauded Abbasi’s bold stance on the matter.
“It’s great to see Asim Abbasi standing his ground and not succumbing to right-wing bullies trying to moral police a work of art. This fight isn’t easy! Also, glad that Barzakh is on an international platform and cannot be dictated by a regressive organization like PEMRA”, the X user wrote.
This is not the first time. Pakistan’s Oscar entry for 2022, Joyland, faced a country-wide boycott for its depiction of queer storylines and so did the 2023 TV show Sar-e-Rah.
Stop making like these dramas in Pak Pakistan. This is an Islamic country . I think you forgot what is your religion, you forgot that you are in Muslim country. Don’t do this only for yourself & money. I do boycott with this f*king porn drama 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎…