Leading Urdu newspaper of Pakistan came under fire on social media for slandering the participants of Aurat March 2021 as ‘whores’.
The newspaper published the story on its cover page on Monday. The use of offensive language triggered hues and cry among social media users who slammed the media organization for creating undue controversy around the subject and demeaning the participants.
The remarks of the newspaper came along with a story that claims that 14 countries including the USA, Japan, India, Sweden, South Africa, and other African countries report a higher number of sexual assault cases than Pakistan.
I appreciate #Ummat newspaper pic.twitter.com/vA73qVIq7T
— Bilal Abbasi ✪ (@Bilal__Abbasi) April 5, 2021
As a journalist I am ashamed of this behavior of such low-rated and yellow journalism. I demand @reportpemra to urgently ban this third class newspaper who hasn't paid its staff the salaries for thepast several months #Ummat pic.twitter.com/7d7tGS1Rxl
— Mamoon Alvi (@MamoonAlvi) April 5, 2021
Adding that the ‘whores’ of this annual Aurat March 2021 must look at the rate of sexual assault in non-Muslim countries too. The screenshot of the headline has been making waves on social media with demands from users to apologize for derogatory remarks.
Read more: Bakhtawar Bhutto condemns doctored video of Aurat March rally
Despite opposition from a large section of society, the trend of Aurat March calling for women empowerment is increasing annually.
HRCP demands apology
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also took notice of the controversial remarks of the newspaper. “HRCP condemns the use of unethical and inappropriate language against women in the daily Ummat,” said the organization in a tweet. Adding that “The newspaper must publish an unconditional apology and refrain from using such language in the future,” the tweet read further.
Earlier, a doctored video from Aurat Azadi March with blasphemous content has been making waves on social media that triggered an intense reaction from netizens all over Pakistan.
Several notable media personalities including anchorpersons shared the edited video believing it to be original, however, the organizers of Aurat March responded to the controversial video and shared the original one.
Read more: Dissent on Aurat March and Woman Empowerment
The edited video showed women attending Aurat March in Karachi on 8th March, raising blasphemous slogans in the rally. The video had attracted immense criticism and flak from Twitter users who had questioned the credibility of the rallies organized for the rights of women.
#Ummat Newspaper is constantly publishing unethical material & spreading extremism. This piece of news regarding women sexual assault have been published but the newspaper written Aurat March @AuratMarchKHI Organizers "Randi".
This is Journalism in Pakistan. @ICFJ pic.twitter.com/CtpsCI5d6o— Mir (Imam B.) (@ImamKeerio1) April 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/hiddenfriend4/status/1379027556331094024?s=20
Hence, the organizers of the Aurat March swiftly responded to the controversy as it had endangered the lives of women attending the rally.
The team of Aurat March released its official statement on Twitter, demanded an apology for the doctored video, and called it an attempt to spread misinformation in society.