A lesson that bears repeating
Honour killing is regarded as the most disquieting and vulgar concept, which has largely encircled Pakistan, in a persistent manner. In the epoch of “selective feminism” Women in Pakistan — are primarily being subjugated to follow — the dictations of their families at any cost. However, unfortunately, a woman who decides her fate in an overwhelmingly patriarchal and misogynist society, is to meet with societal pressure and so-called family’s instructions. Families and societies, that kill the innocent soul in the name of honour is more than just a humiliation, than what they endeavor to restore.
Last month, a contentious social media starlet, Qandeel Baloch, was strangled by her brother, Wassem Azeem. Who confessed that heinous malice — by citing that she was a disgrace, for his family, therefore, I killed her to restore family’s honour. Qandeel Baloch, like many other girls who were brutally murdered either by the family itself or this fanatical society — was in a perpetual state of skirmishes to challenge, societal norms and hypocrisy of male dominated society. Hence, she had neither eloped nor married against the wishes of her family, to be targeted in a cold-blood, (which is the main reason in these cases).
Her only sin was simply herself — an intrepid, brave, lusty, “thigh-jangling” who decided to interact fearlessly on social media with “socially conservative” folks of Pakistan’s elites and middle class. Qandeel, a social media sensation, with her “kohl-rimmed eyes and ‘whispering’ sexual soliloquies, challenged the age-old hierarchies of modern-day Pakistan.” In an interview recorded two days before her murder, a caller asked her why she didn’t use her popularity to do something good for Pakistan. “I would like to,” she responded, “but there are a lot of issues in my life right now. I am in the middle of dealing with not one, not two, but three cases filed against me, I’m dealing with controversies, and, then, my brothers want to kill me.”
Moreover, Pakistan is an overwhelmingly male dominated society, where women are merely considered to be the honour of a family. Where women are subjected to stay well inside, the four corners of a home. Hitherto, they are being deprived of their indispensable rights; ranging from moral, social, educational, political and economic almost in each and every sphere of Pakistani society.
We live in a society where only women are the prime subject of increasing honour killings, moral abuse, acid attacks, denied them ancestral property and buried them alive on the orders of Jirga. Regrettably, most of Pakistani women, are painstakingly vanquished eternally, to live under the thumb of so-called dominated desires of their particular families. So that, they obtrude miscellaneous restrictions on their female members by disallowing them in vicinity, and prohibit them from achieving education.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recently released a report noting that honour killings were on the rise. 1,096 Pakistani women were killed in honour-related attacks in 2015, which amounts to three killings per day. Globally, it is estimated that 20,000 women are killed in the name of honour each year. And these are just the reported cases.
Honour killing is itself a supreme dishonour at the ambit of humanity. For instance, killing innocents for honour do not restore honour. But honour could be buried along with their bodies. Individual has honour — honour has no honour without individual. Honour killing would however, further instill misogyny and shed light on the repugnant nature of male gaze society.
Baloch’s, brother is not the one and only culprit for her savage murder, but the society around him made it inevitable. It is a society, which honour starts from woman’s Kameez and it ends at her Shalwar. But its Ghairat, does not wake up when these women fetch water on their heads from miles. Their ghairat do not arise, when women are being denied of their ancestral properties — granted to them by Islam. But their ghairat only awakens when women challenge the ‘age’ old hierarchies, societal norms and tribal limitations.
It is more abhorrent and despicable to live with the “guilt of murdering” his own sisters and daughters. It is more a disgrace and embarrassment to have lived with the blood tainted hands of own relatives. It is more than just a humiliation to take off one’s life for no reason — than overhauling the so-called honour.
Baloch, was a modern day feminist — who stood against misogyny with her bold and plucky actions. She was a “Girls Power” who defied male gaze in this obsessive Pakistani society. However, there are variegated loopholes in the society, in which a social media starlet, Qandeel Baloch, erected the notion of women’s individuality.
In that case, Qandeel said, “As women we must stand up for ourselves. As women we must stand up for justice. I believe I am a modern day feminist… I am just a women with free thoughts free mindset and I LOVE THE WAY I AM.”
“I am a social media sensation, I am a fashion icon,” she said. “I don’t know how many girls have felt support through my persona. I’m a girl power. So many girls tell me I’m a girl power, and yes, I am.”
It is a matter of serious concerns that this two-faced and deceitful society must accept the free will of women. Because they have full autonomy, freedom of expression and rights to decide their future. No one has the right to subjugate them forcibly. If one act according or otherwise, it would be a matter of serious crime, of being depriving women from their identity, individuality and right to life.
However, the society made her killing inexorable for no reason. Therefore, her brother in general and this patriarchal and misogynist society in particular is responsible for her savage and untimely demise. Those who thinks or who did act in an akin spate of violence for restoring family’s honour in ‘honour killing’ is just a shame, not anything else. As a result, there is no honour in honour killing.
“The society killed her not the brother.”
Najeeb Kakar is a freelance Journalist and blogger at The Huffington Post and The Nation. He can be reached at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter@najeebkakar19 and Facebook
