In the blame game that follows, is the Media also guilty?
“24/7 news media somewhat restricts us from keeping track of the story after the initial stages. If we can keep ourselves involved until the end, there lies no reason why it wouldn’t qualify as ‘investigative journalism’,” Iftikhar said.
Violence against women (VAW) is one the most prominent topic of the society that needs serious attention as these so called “home-based crimes” are on a rise today.
Amongst the wide range of violence against women crimes ‘Honour Killing’ is one of the most barbaric and brutal acts that violate the fundamental right of an individual to life.
The VAW cases especially honour killing or honour related cases come at the forefront with extensive media coverage.
Every state has its own way of projecting the VAW cases with their own frame of reference, similarly, in Pakistan ‘honour killing’ has gained newsworthiness in lieu to the screen space given to such murders.
Drawing a comparative analysis with a casual reporting of a murder and extensive coverage given to an honour killing case, a prominent difference has been witnessed.
Senior journalist and anchorperson Iftikhar Ahmed while talking to DNA said, “A murder is a murder, there really shouldn’t be a difference between our reactions to news related to it. Murdering someone is a reprehensible act regardless of the reasons for committing it.”
“However, some issues like ‘Honor Killing’ get more coverage because of the controversy it creates. And in the news business nowadays, controversy sells.”
Iftikhar Ahmed while commenting on whether media coverage of honour killing cases could be categorised under “investigative journalism” he said that journalists need to follow the case to its final conclusion.
“24/7 news media somewhat restricts us from keeping track of the story after the initial stages. If we can keep ourselves involved until the end, there lies no reason why it wouldn’t qualify as ‘investigative journalism’,” Iftikhar said.
Analysing the current scenario, the concept of honour is somehow seen to undermine the seriousness of the issue to excuse the perpetrator of their crime.
Television anchor Ali Mumtaz while talking to DNA said that media role should be to get deep into the issues and once proved should name it has “honour killing” otherwise it should be called a murder.
“Many cases don’t get reported, some even are a false alarm and every case said to be so called ‘honour killing’ is not honour killing as there could be other reasons behind the murder.”
Every day numerous cases of honour killing come to the forefront via print, electronic or social media. However, in the midst of seriousness associated with the issue media coverage goes beyond the parameters set under the ‘code of ethics of journalism.’
Political commentator and senior anchor Moeed Pirzada while talking to DNA said that educated media is only formed once we have a well-educated and well-informed society.
“News about honour killings certainly creates a media buzz. Unfortunately, in the wake of these wars of issues all we see is that issues being dealt in a rough and tumble session,”
Political commentator and senior anchor Moeed Pirzada while talking to DNA said that educated media is only formed once we have a well-educated and well-informed society.
“News about honour killings certainly creates a media buzz. Unfortunately, in the wake of these wars of issues all we see is that issues being dealt in a rough and tumble session,” Pirzada added.
Moreover, in many cases, media tends to intrude the personal space of the victim or his family without their confirmation or affirmation.
Anchor person Syed Asim Raza while talking to DNA stated a way forward that, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) should take an action.
“Through strict monitoring, it should be ensured that personal space of the victim and the family is not breached,” Raza said.
“Hence, limitations and barriers should be set on electronic media coverage and for this new legislations should be made,” he added.
It is an undeniable fact that today media is the fourth pillar of the state but in various situations, the immature or false reporting of the sensitive issues such as honour killing tends to go over the top leading to adverse repercussions for the state.
While talking to DNA Moeed Pirzada said, “the projection of honour killings cases is ruining the image of the state. The murder by naming it as an ‘honor killing’ drags it behind the curtains of ‘social defence’ making the issue less worthy to argue upon.”
Thousands of women die in the name of ‘honour’ every year, usually at the hands of relatives acting over a perception ‘shame’ that has been brought on the family. The exact figures are difficult to obtain but the dichotomy is that the society is already too brutalised to mourn on each one.
Recently, Qandeel Baloch a former model and media star was brutally killed by her brother in the name of honour.
She gained stardom from celebrating her sensuality engaging millions of her followers. Baloch described herself as a modern day ‘feminist’.
“I believe I am a modern day feminist. I believe in equality. I need not choose what type of women should be. I don’t think there is any need to label ourselves just for a sake of society. I am just a woman with free thoughts free mindset and I LOVE THE WAY I AM,” Qandeel wrote in a tweet.
Baloch, who built a modelling career on the back of her social media fame and was the family’s breadwinner. However, her murder shocked the country and took the media by a storm. The coverage given to the issue was massive both on the national and international platform.
Iftikhar Ahmed while talking to DNA said, “had she been an ordinary girl murdered in the name of so-called ‘honour’, news media would’ve probably forgotten about her and moved on.”
The talk of the town post the incident was that it was a ‘media murder’ as the individual was given a lot of screen space which incited her brother to commit the crime.
Syed Asim Raza disagreed to state it as a ‘media murder’ as according to him it was Qandeel’s personal choice to gain media attention by being an internet sensation. Hence, her murder merely gave media a tool to further sensationalise the latest issues associated to the already “in the news” model.
“Unfortunately, in the midst of being in the limelight, she failed to realise the adverse repercussions she could face as a result of her actions.”
“I won’t consider it in the parameters of honour killing as her brother was aware of her actions from quite some time,” Ali Mumtaz said.
To conclude, we live in an era of sensitive feminism where with each murder, new parameters are defined and the space for women shrinks.
Qandeel flouted social mores and took suggestive selfies, Sabeen Mahmud organised events on Balochistan and promoted tolerance and Zeenat bibi married a man of her choice and was burnt to death. These proactive personalities and common women didn’t deserve this brutal end.
The media in the wake of the violence against women blames the conservative mindset, traditional cultural practices and the patriarchal society.
“However, media role should be to address and empower the argument that there is no honour in ‘honor killing’,” Moeed said.
Since, the cases of VAW are at a verge, therefore, the civil society, government and media should strictly condemn such brutal and heinous acts and serious action should be taken upon them.
