This summer we have seen a trend of singers and musicians being assaulted while performing on stage including Bebe Rexha, Ava Max, Drake and Harry Styles. It’s clearly gross to witness public figures turned into fodder for jokes and harassment when they are entertaining us.
Cardi B became the latest target of the trend when during a performance at Las Vegas, a fan threw a drink on the singer. However, the rapper was quick to respond, throwing her much right back at the assaulter.
When the incident went viral on social media, fans were quick to defend the ‘WAP’ singer, calling out the people who refuse to recognise that performers are not spectacles to be made fun of, and no woman should be assaulted when they’re doing their job.
“Exactly it’s about time a performer retaliated to this ‘trend’”, a user wrote.
Grammy winning singer Adele recently slammed concert-goers for throwing things at singers, threatening to respond back brutally if someone assaulted her while she was singing on stage.
“Have you noticed how people are like, forgetting f****** show etiquette at the moment? People just throwing s*** on stage, have you seen them?” Adele was seen speaking in a fan-recorded video.
“I f****** dare you. Dare you to throw something at me and I’ll f*****g kill you.”
Pop star Britney Spears has been physically assaulted by a security guard of NBA’s Victor Wembayana at ARIA Hotel where she was dining with her husband Sam Asghari. Sources report that the singer tried to approach the basketball player for a picture, tapping him on the shoulder to catch his attention, when the security guard member shoved her in the face.
According to US Weekly, the head of the security team later went to Britney and apologised, but the singer’s team has filed a police case against the guard.
Spears addressed the incident on her Instagram, detailing how she had approached the athlete in the hotel by tapping on his shoulder and was hoping to congratulate him on his success, countering his statement that she grabbed him from behind. She was back handed in the face by his security team. Spears also revealed that she has yet to receive an apology from the athlete:
“Physical violence is happening too much in this world. Often behind closed doors. I stand with all the victims and my heart foes out to all of you!! I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organisation. I hope they will…”
She also slammed Wembayana for laughing away the matter:
“Watching the player smile and laugh was cruel and demoralizing with the situation that took place. I am 5’3 and he’s 7’4.”
Spear’s husband, Sam Asghari, took to his Instagram stories to condemn the act of violence on his wife:
“I am opposed to violence in any form, especially without justification in the defence of yourself or someone else who is unable to defend themselves. Self-defence can be unavoidable, but the defense of any woman, especially my wife, is not debatable. I consider my reaction subdued considering what ocurred, and I hope the man in question learns a lesson and changes his disregard for women.”
A backstage video filmed at the Texpo Fashion Week, showing an alleged altercation between models Hasnain Lehri and Nimra Jacob has gone viral on social media.
According to sources, female model Nimra Jacob had been assaulted by Lehri, after which she can be seen demanding from show organisers to take models’ safety seriously. At one point in the video, Lehri is seen being restrained by a few men present backstage.
Pakistan’s top most fashion models Hasnain Lehri and Nimra Jacob involved in a clash following Texpo Fashion Show in Karachi. According to the eye witnesses, Lehri took Jacob’s mobile for allegedly filming him at the backstage and Jacob accused Lehri for raising a hand on her.… pic.twitter.com/HiRRM8I66C
— Times of Karachi (@TOKCityOfLights) May 27, 2023
Since the video went viral, Jacob has addressed the incident on Instagram, demanding better treatment for models working in the fashion industry:
“You cannot mistreat me. You can’t bully me. And you surely will not put your hands on me without consequences. We, in the fashion industry, have seen too much abuse, disrespect, and complete, utter negligence for our safety to tolerate it anymore. I have no space in my heart for forgiveness when it comes to abuse, harassment, bullying, assault, etc. Without any plausible cause, threats were made at me. I was verbally abused, and physically assaulted. My property was taken and used to blackmail me. My female colleagues were harmed in the process of trying to protect me.
“This all happened at work,” the super model continued. “Where I made sure to bring it to the attention of the management that I was being threatened by the perpetuator before he even became violent. The management should have taken action the first time I mentioned concern for my safety. I’m lucky there were eye witnesses to this man’s horrific actions, there were people who witnesses it all. As traumatized as I am, I’m not standing alone.”
“I refuse to let anyone abuse, threaten, intimidate, or belittle my colleagues or myself in any way.
“Today I stand to let you know that I will call out these abusers, harassers, bullies for exactly who/what they are. Every single one of them. If we want the industry to be a safe space, we need to collectively take a stand and check disrespect at the door. We need to demand accountability for those who are supposed to ensure our safety at work. And demand zero tolerance for the perpetuators involved in spewing such violence and aggression at the workplace. I’m done with this toxic, abusive culture. No more! Enough is enough!”
Soon other notable fashion figures like designer Kamiar Rokni condemned the incident as well as toxic male behavior on his Instagram account, stating that he was standing in solidarity with female models:
“Toxic male behaviour needs to be addressed in the fashion industry. Violence against girls backstage at a fashion show is a new low. This cannot be allowed to happen again it is up to us to come together and make this a safe space for our girls. Our models are an invaluable part of our industry and we can’t stand around while they are abused.”
Model Fatima Ahsan, who was also spotted in the viral video, took to Instagram to address the incident, and demanded that show organizers and sponsors make safer environments for their models:
“So everyone’s been seeing videos from the show backstage and sending them to me, asking if I’m okay, thank you so much for your love and concern. I am fine. The incident took place with another model and could’ve happened to anyone. Luckily it didn’t escalate. But we live in a fragile country and today’s incident just reinforces how no one takes the woman’s side. We weren’t secure in the environment. And the men (except for 1 or 2), they either stood and watched or tried to brush our concerns under the table and get the women to retract. Later they said let them deal with it themselves, let’s leave. Yes, let’s leave the women by themselves in an already unsafe environment. No one in charge – none of the organisers – nobody took responsibility it was only the female models that came together and took a stand.
To all the men, show organisers, and everyone innvolved. Do better. You just walked away from injustice and we’ll remember that.”
Model Zara Peerzada called out the organisers who hire toxic men for their shows, and asked designers to stop being complicit:
“Stop hiring violent males to walk your shows, be in your shoots. It’s not complicated. How about when you see abuse taking place you address and intervene? It’s not complicated. Stop doing empowerment campaigns for women to sell your clothes when you don’t have an ounce of respect for them or their safety. It’s not complicated. This is not an isolated incident.”
Visual artist and designer Rehan Bashir called this a case that showed how “standards within the industry keep plummenting towards abysmal depths”, and expressed solidarity with female models
Trigger warning: rape jokes, kidnapping, assault, sexual harassment
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) politician Nabil Gabol has proved that one can be a legislator in the highest offices and yet resort to making extremely offensive, misogynist jokes whenever they can.
Twitter users have decried PPP for claiming that they are a progressive party, but providing important positions to men like Gabol who make misogynist and degrading comments about women on public platforms. A clip from a YouTube podcast, The Pakistan Experience with host Shehzad Ghias, is going viral on Twitter where Gabol was a guest and where he said: “When rape is imminent, then just enjoy it.”
Journalist Zebunnisa Burki shared the clip on her Twitter page and lamented the fact that men in powerful positions are never held accountable for talking about women in a vulgar manner like he has.
*TW*. I’d say unbelievable but is it really? Men in powerful positions will trivialise rape, talk abt abducting women, talk abt women in entertainment like they’re there for their taking — and get away with it. Nothing will happen to Nabil Gabol’s career, no matter the offence. https://t.co/G0LhL1Ricj
Founder of ‘Digital Rights Foundation’ and lawyer Nighat Dad criticized Gabol on her Twitter account for casually using rape as a punchline because of the way it malign’s the struggles of survivors of sexual violence, and especially called for politicians to be held accountable for their words because they hold positions of power and influence.
The use of rape as a punchline or a casual reference is abhorrent and has no place in political civilized discourse. It is a blatant display of disrespect towards the survivors of sexual violence and undermines efforts to combat this heinous crime.
Dad also shared a clip from Gabol’s previous interview with Youtuber Nadir Ali which took place in 2022, where the politician was seen making sexually suggestive comments about women politicians.
In another interview he is making sexually suggestive comments & references towards other women politicians. It is crucial that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions & words & that there are consequences for engaging in such behavior. @BBhuttoZardaripic.twitter.com/eAgjZUZ7OQ
In the same interview, a user shared a clip of Gabol openly claiming that he kidnaps girls and takes them under his possession.
PPP leader Nabeel Gabol bragging about picking up, abducting any girl that he likes, insinuating something that I can’t even write here. pic.twitter.com/f7Ujuy74mk
Recently, Gabol had given an interview to Nadir Ali, where a Twitter users shamed him for his sexual comments about the TikTok star Ayesha, and for asking for her number.
Here is Nabil Gabol from PPP full video on his disgusting take on a minor girl.
Nadir Ali: Jo aap Shauqia Kam krtay hein wo mera Paisha hay.
Aisa Ghatiya bnda apparently “progressive” party ka important member hay! PPP feminists have deactivated their Twitter pic.twitter.com/fTqz4fSKFw
Writer and columnist Fatima Bhutto shared the clip from Gabol’s interview with Ghias, and in the caption she condemned his comments for exposing the ‘criminal mindset of the Sindh government.”
Utter filth. Nabil Gabol exposes the absolute criminal mindset of Sindh’s government. He has done nothing for Lyari, for the people he supposedly represents, and laughs while talking of such violence. Horrendous. https://t.co/rlRwiNoO6P
Bakhtawar Bhutto, the sister of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, condemned Gabol on Monday morning in a tweet.
His (repulsive) rhetoric belongs to his individual only & is in noway a representation of our party. Incase it wasn’t already abundantly obvious- we absolutely & unequivocally stand for the rights & protection of women. Misogyny has no space in our religion nor our party.”
His (repulsive) rhetoric belongs to his individual only & is in noway a representation of our party. Incase it wasn’t already abundantly obvious- we absolutely & unequivocally stand for the rights & protection of women. Misogyny has no space in our religion nor our party. https://t.co/aFsDF8DjXA
However, users demanded that Gabol be removed from the party, calling the tweet a tone-deaf response to criticism.
lol continue to keep and patronize the most disgusting people in your party and then dismiss criticism saying that’s their individual belief. the party is what its people are, not a decoy manifesto. if your leaders are misogynists, so is the party. it’s not rocket science. https://t.co/Wk2ccAD9yo
In a shocking incident, a young woman was raped by two armed men at the F-9 Park in Islamabad on February 2. According to the 24-year-old victim, she was visiting the F-9 Park along with a male companion around 8pm when two armed stopped them at gunpoint, separated them and then took her towards a thicket and raped her. They also threatened her to remain silent or they would call “more friends” to rape her. After raping her, she was told by the rapists that she should not have been in the park at night. A police complaint at Margalla police station mentioned that the woman had marks of torture on her legs and face. “I was slapped. My hair was pulled and I was thrown on the floor,” the woman’s statement to the police read.
People in Pakistan have expressed anger over the country’s “rape epidemic” and also slammed negligence over such cases of violence against women. Hundreds of protesters gathered in the F-9 park slamming the law enforcement’s response to the assault as they tied their dupattas to the railings in solidarity with the rape victims and survivors.
It was also quite shocking that the Islamabad Police asked people after this incident to only visit well-lit areas in the park when the rapists took the girl to a thicket to rape her at gunpoint. Instead of taking responsibility and providing security to citizens, the police want to restrict people’s movement. As anger and rage engulfed Pakistan over the issue of women’s safety, we still look for answers to whether this will ever end and whether women will find happiness, security and peace in Pakistan. Will victim-blaming ever stop? Will there ever come a time when society and the lawmakers all unanimously stand as one with the victims and survivors? Will the predators of such heinous crimes be punished? Will the war on women ever come to an end?
To the hopelessness and rage that fills our hearts, may women find security, protectiveness and justice in this country. Will Pakistan ever stand with its women? The women are angry, and rightly so as they have been betrayed by their own system, society and law-enforcers.
A 32-year-old Muslim, Zeeshan Khan, suffering from bipolar disorder was assaulted, made to lick his own spit, and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by suspected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Dhanbad on Friday, reports Indian Express.
The incident took place at a protest by the BJP against the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Punjab. The party’s Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha and Dhanbad MP P N Singh were among the leaders present at the protest.
Zeeshan was passing by the spot when he allegedly used abusive words for one of the BJP leaders. He was immediately surrounded by a group of suspected BJP workers and supporters who started assaulting him. He was then made to squat, spit on the road and lick it and chant Jai Shri Ram.
Zeeshan Khan, 32, suffering from ‘bipolar disorder’, was assaulted, forced to lick his own spit, and asked to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at BJP protest site in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. Khan was told: “Thook Chaato, Uthak Baithak karo…Bolo Jai Shri Ram”. https://t.co/S2VWYT1LA7 Video pic.twitter.com/suZYPL2n7L
After a video of the incident went viral on social media, Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh said, “We are inquiring into the matter and Dhanbad police are investigating it and have registered an FIR. One person has been arrested.” He said it was not immediately clear whom Zeeshan abused.
The FIR was filed on the complaint of Zeeshan’s younger brother Rehan Khan.
Speaking to The Indian Express overthephone, Rehan said his brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 10 years ago. “What kind of society is this. Even if my brother said something, did he deserve to be treated like this – made to lick his spit and forced to say Jai Shri Ram. My brother has been suffering from mental illness since 2012,” Rehan, 28, said.
In his complaint to the police, Rehan said, “…My elder brother Zeeshan Khan was passing by the city center between 1-2 pm where BJP members were protesting at the Gandhi statue area. My brother was chased and beaten by the mob… and was forced to lick spit and asked to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’… My brother is injured… I plead that legal action be taken and justice be done with my brother.”
A recently surfaced video shows a woman being sexually assaulted by a large group of men at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on 14 August, Pakistan’s independence day. The incident has been confirmed after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered.
The FIR was registered under sections 354 A, 382, 147 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code against hundreds of unidentified persons for assaulting and stealing from a female TikToker and at least five other people, Dawn has reported.
Actor Aagha Ali took to his Instagram stories to condemn the heinous act and expressed his disappointment on the state of affairs with an extensive note.
Senior director Mehreen Jabbar urged netizens to not use the word ‘animal’ for these molesters as that is derogatory for animals.
A video of Bilal Saeed physically assaulting a young girl and a boy in the presence of the police went viral on social media Thursday evening.
According to reports, the girl and the boy in the video are Bilal’s brother and sister-in-law. The singer allegedly also wanted to file an FIR against his brother but no case was registered as the two parties later reconciled. The report further claimed that Bilal has refused to comment on the matter.
On the other hand, Geo News reported that the incident occurred on January 10 within the remits of Sundar Police Station.
Soon after the video went viral, Bilal shared a video of his house with broken items and claimed that the destruction was done in his absence.
“I know how to respect women and I know how to protect a woman too! I raised my hand to protect my family,” wrote Bilal in the caption. “This is what they did to me while I was away from my house!”
The singer further said that he has been a victim of blackmailing.
“And that’s not about it I have been the victim of their blackmailing and unfair behavior for a very long time,” claimed Bilal. “I stayed quiet because obviously as an artist my priority is my career but these people have been taking advantage of my situation for a very long time.”
The video has now been removed from social media.
Later, in an official statement, Bilal said: “Every human has the right to live with dignity and security, regardless of gender. I am a believer of peace, however, I also believe in establishing boundaries when that peace is repeatedly compromised by another, regardless of gender.”
He continued: “When the safety and dignity of a person is violated and jeopardized over and over again, he, unfortunately, is left with no option but to react.”
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Bilal has been involved in controversy. Last year, the singer came under fire for shooting his music video inside Masjid Wazir Khan.
Mahira Khan, who was recently listed in BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020′ for being outspoken about social issues, in a recent interview said that the media, including actors, filmmakers and drama makers, need to take responsibility to change the narrative.
In a recent interview, the actor said: “Something happens, there is a lot of noise about it. Everybody gets on the streets, everybody talks about it on the media, and then what? And then it dies out. Another news comes out, another story comes out or another rape happens! Then that is just another name or another hashtag attached to it. The problem is that we are not ready to educate our public, create programs that educate children, we are not ready to talk about it openly and I think we need to change that narrative.”
She continued: “I also take responsibility for it. I am a big part of the media of this country. I feel that our films, our television serials, we have to change the narrative.”
“We can’t just show a woman being assaulted (by a man) and then falling in love with him and show him to be the hero. A hero cannot be someone who is abusive. So, I think somewhere even we have to take that initiative.”
Mahira also talked about her stance on fairness creams and why she refuses to endorse them.
“I’ve been approached from the beginning of my career, not just as an actor – even when I was a VJ – I was approached to do a lot of fairness cream products, skin whitening products,” shared the actor. “It doesn’t make sense to me, it never made sense to me. So, I am endorsing the idea that a darker girl, a man is not as attractive as someone with a fairer complexion? It just didn’t make sense to me.”
Mahira also took a moment to recall her first award as an actor. In the interview, she said that though she has received many awards over the years, the award – Lux Style Award for Best Actress – she received for Humsafar is her most special.
“This is my first award as an actor, for a drama that really launched me, in the year that I was launched,” said Mahira. “I won many awards after that but this remains very, very special.”
A Christian labourer, who was tortured by local landowners in Kasur three days ago on accusations of “polluting” their tube-well water by bathing in it, succumbed to his injuries on Friday, Pakistan Today reported.
The report quoted the deceased’s family members as saying that 22-year-old Saleem Masih on Thursday was brought to General Hospital in a critical condition from Chunian tehsil.
“On February 25, Saleem had finished unloading chaff in fields in Baguyana village and was rinsing himself off in the tube-well when a group of men, including Sher Dogar, Iqbal, Altaf, Jabbar and Haji Muhammad, rushed over, yanked him out of the water and began beating him,” Saleem’s father Ghafoor Masih said.
“They cursed and abused Saleem for ‘polluting’ the water, calling him a ‘filthy Christian’,” Masih claimed, adding that the assailants then dragged the youth to their cattle farm, where they chained his hands and feet and continued to torture him with sticks and rods. “They also rolled a thick iron rod over Saleem’s entire body, causing multiple fractures and internal injuries.”
Ghafoor said that the family was informed about the incident by police officials four hours after his son was taken hostage and tortured.
“When we reached the cattle farm, we found Saleem lying unconscious on the ground, his face and body bloodied,” he said. He alleged that according to Dogar and the other men, Saleem had “committed a crime by dirtying” their well water and that his punishment was “justified”.
Masih said that after much pleading, the family was allowed to take Saleem to the hospital while the police acted like spectators.
Accusing the Ila Abad Police of favouring the accused, Pakistan Center for Law and Justice (PCLJ) Executive Director Napolean Qayyum said that police had helped the five men obtain bail after briefly holding them in custody.
He said successive governments have failed to reform a deeply corrupt police system that often shows religious prejudice toward minority and marginalized communities.
“The police’s attitude is often biased when they deal with matters relating to blasphemy, forced conversions and marriages of girls belonging to minority faiths, and even in minor disputes,” Qayyum said. “In this instance, for example, the police favoured the accused and helped them in getting bail even though a young man’s life was at serious risk.”
Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine said that the incident was in his knowledge and stern action would be taken against the perpetrators and the police officials concerned.
Regarding the family’s claim that their son’s killing was religiously motivated, Augustine said the incident was a result of the mindset that prevails in society. “No law can change such a mindset. The government is trying to promote tolerance for the other faiths but it is an uphill task that cannot be achieved overnight.”
It merits a mention that Kasur is the same district where an illiterate young Christian couple was beaten and burned to death by a frenzied mob in 2014 over false allegations of blasphemy. Shahzad and Shama Masih, 26 and 24 respectively, had been accused of desecrating pages of the Holy Quran along with other household waste.
The mob beat the two with sticks and stones before burning them in a brick kiln in front of police officials who stood watching. Postmortem reports revealed that the two were alive when they were thrown into the kiln.
After the attack, it emerged that the couple had been falsely accused. The pages that the family burned were their personal documents.
