Here are some significant moments of the movement in Pakistan and around the World.
Pakistan
Patari’s CEO steps down
An internal administrative crisis was triggered in the music streaming application as multiple social media users accused the co-founder, Khalid Bajwa of sexual harassment. A two-month audit was initiated amid multiple resignations from staff members who argued that the values of the organisation no longer matched theirs. In their last statement, Patari wrote that Bajwa has been removed from any role connected with the application.
Meesha Shafi sues Ali Zafar
The singer shared on Twitter that she was harassed by Zafar at his studio, another member of the fraternity. A complaint was filed under the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 which was dismissed on ‘technical grounds’. Students boycotted the singer’s movie and protested outside the cinemas upon release. More women came out in support.
Elsewhere
Bill Cosby gets sentenced to jail
African American comedian Bill Cosby was sentenced to thirty years in jail on three charges: penetration without consent, penetration while unconscious, and penetration after administering a intoxicant orally. The case- in which a settlement had been reached in 2005- was reopened in 2014 after a TV comedian accused Cosby of being “a rapist” as multiple women came out with similar charges of assault and rape. Bill Cosby is now inmate no. NN7687 in a 7 by 13 foot jail cell.
Harvey Weinstein get charged with rape, criminal sex act and several counts of abuse
Multiple actresses sued the Hollywood producer for alleged charges of sexual abuse. Even more, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Romola Garai, shared problematic encounters with the mogul. He was indicted by a grand jury in New York and pleads not guilty in six charges pertaining to three victims. In September, police announce that 11th woman has alleged sexual assault
Larry Nassar faces retribution for decades of child abuse
156 women read out victim impact statements on child abuse during an eight-day hearing at Ingham County Circuit Court in Michigan. All members of the board of directors of USA gymnastics, the institution Nassar was connected to for decades, tendered their resignation. Nassar pled guilty to three counts of criminal sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 40 to 125 years in jail by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina. Later, Eaton County Circuit Judge Janice Cunningham reiterated the sentence. In December, USA gymnastics filed for bankruptcy.
Bollywood buckles under #MeToo
The movement unveiled many industry veterans who used their power and influence to indulge in predatory behaviour. Starting with actress Tanushree Dutta’s accusations of sexual harassment against veteran actor Nana Patekar, others including actor Alok Nath, Queen director Vikas Bahl, top-selling author Chetan Bhagat, actor Rajat Kapoor, music director and singer Anu Malik, Varun Grover, Farah Khan’s brother Sajid Khan, AIB comedian Utsav Chakraborty, singer Kailash Kher, stand-up comedian Aditi Mittal, Singer Raghu Dixit as well as, high profile journalists and sportsmen were outed in front of the public.
Silence is not spiritual: Abuse happens in #ChurchToo
An evangenical version of #MeToo movement gained support as multiple condemned the clergy for shielding incidents of sexual abuse and protecting abusers who confessed their sins. Nuns came out with incidence of sexual abuse from priests. Pop Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a prominent member of the US Catholic Church after a sexual abuse scandal surfaced.
