Mahira Khan confronted backlash on social media for advising the proponents of Aurat March to be careful with the slogans.
“We don’t march for ourselves. We march for those who cannot march for themselves,” said Mahira Khan in a tweet.
She further added that “As a privileged woman I march for those who are not in my position, who don’t have the basic rights that I have enjoyed since I was born.”
I’m sure those who have been organizing the Aurat March are experienced, have been working for years for the cause of women..they have a better idea of what should and should not be done. I write out of pure observation. #WhyIMarch pic.twitter.com/D3AUQYM3Re
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) March 4, 2020
In a separate note posted along with her tweet, Mahira Khan urged that the intention of the movement should be to help the disadvantaged women who cannot fight for their rights and not to divert from the real cause. She, particularly, pointed out the inappropriate slogans that stirred debate and retaliation from people.
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“Can we then please be careful with the slogans and words we put out? Can we hold placards of the causes we are fighting for, the issues we want to be resolved, the basic rights and needs of those who suffer because they are either unaware of their rights or they are not given to them?
You’re right. Also, #merajismmerimarzi is not what I was talking about when I said ‘careful about the words we put out’. In any case, I stand corrected. https://t.co/mr3iq2LD85
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) March 5, 2020
Farieha, I still believe that certain things said/written out of rage dissuade us from engaging in dialogue which brings about change. This is my opinion. And I shall continue to engage with people like you.I feel sad and strange saying this – but thank you for not abusing me. https://t.co/sd6kEByExP
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) March 5, 2020
“Can we hold banners of laws we would like to be put into place and those that have harmed women over the years? Don’t we want as many people as possible to understand why we march?” Mahira Khan asked in a note shared on her Twitter account.
She mentioned that she is writing “out of pure observation” and the organizers who have been working to champion the cause of women’s rights “have a better idea”.
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But she ended up receiving hate and blistering criticism on social media to the point where she temporarily deactivated her account. Social media users assumed that she criticized the slogan ‘Mera Jism Meri Marzi-My Body My Choice’.
Mahira Khan, however, clarified that she was not talking about it but many other outrageous slogans that were raised at previous Aurat March that inadvertently dissuade people from supporting the movement.