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Bilal Saeed says he knows how to 'respect' women after physically attacking one

Bilal Saeed says he knows how to 'respect' women after physically attacking one

Unfortunately, many people began using the attack as fodder for memes — and that itself is an issue.
05 Feb, 2021

Bilal Saeed started trending on Thursday after a video emerged of the singer arguing with a couple outside his home in Lahore, reportedly from January 10.

Three personnel of the Dolphin Force stood between them and tried to stop the violence. In the video, which was filmed from a neighbour’s house, Saeed first slaps a man, who the police have identified as his brother, and then grabs his shirt. The two exchange punches before they are separated by the police.

Saeed then turns to the woman and kicks her straight in the stomach. She attempts to kick back but is unable to block a punch to the head. The police and the other man then block him. Saeed then attempts to kick the woman again but is stopped by the police.

The two groups argue but it is unclear what they are saying.

The Raiwind police confirmed to Images that a complaint has not been filed against either party. ASP Haseeb Memon identified the couple as Saeed's brother and his girlfriend and said the police were called by the musician.

However, they resolved the issue themselves and no one filed an FIR, he said, which means the police can't take any action.

What Bilal Saeed had to say

Saeed addressed the video on his own Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts. On Twitter, he wrote “every human has the right to live with dignity and security, regardless of gender".

He claimed that he is a believer in peace and referred to the attack as “establishing boundaries when that peace is repeatedly compromised by another, regardless of gender”. He said he was left with no option but to “react”.

Saeed also posted a video on Facebook in which he showed damage to a room in his house, purportedly caused by the couple he assaulted. The video showed scratches on a TV screen, rips in the upholstered wall covering, a broken lamp, a fallen mirror and a framed picture of Saeed placed on a table.

“I know how to respect a women and I know how to protect a women too [sic],” he wrote, claiming that he “raised his hand to protect his family”. The video, however, showed that Saeed was the first one to throw a punch.

Equating his act of violence with the destruction in the room, he said “this is what they did to me while I was away from my house”.

He also accused the pair of blackmail and unfair behaviour. “I stayed quiet because obviously as an artist my priority is my career but these people have been taking advantage of my situation for a very long time,” the singer wrote.

In a post on Instagram, the singer wrote that being famous was not a privilege. "I believe in bodily autonomy and safety for all. Violence against anyone whether man or woman is wrong but It is my right to protect myself and my loved ones if I am physically and verbally harmed and threatened," he said.

He said that he was not proud of engaging in a physical fight but justified that his was a "human" reaction to "all the torture" he has suffered. "I am sorry that my fans had to see this side of me and I do not intend to support or promote violence," he wrote.

He did not, however, apologise for the actual assault.

What happened after the video went viral

Making light of the physical altercation, many people began using the attack as fodder for memes that were offensive and showed Saeed's actions as heroics of some kind (we won't share them because we cannot give space to such callous material).

Not only that, Pakistani Twitter was divided over Saeed kicking and punching a woman in an unprovoked act of violence — with many, in a strange twist, bringing in Aurat March and women's demand for equal rights.

Thankfully, actor Osman Khalid Butt reminded everyone that this isn't normal behaviour. A normal reaction is never to assault someone, regardless of their gender.

"You can choose to hate feminist activism, but don't let that hate spring from ignorance. In plainer words, no, please, this is not what women mean when they're asking for equal rights," he wrote, pointing to the baseless tweets equating a woman being assaulted by a man to feminism and the call for equality.

What we have to say about this episode

It's strange for us to wrap our mind around the narrative that this violent episode is somehow a manifestation of women's struggle for equal rights.

This video doesn't have anything to do with women's rights — so we're not going to delve into that topic (although you can read this article if there's any confusion about feminism or this one which addresses misconceptions) — or with men's rights.

We're going to break it down in three simple points: firstly, violence is never okay, irrespective of the genders involved.

Public figures carry more responsibility in how they act and speak because they have a following, which is often young and impressionable. So they need to think about the consequences and impact of their actions.

And thirdly, whatever a person's reasons may be for resorting to violence, an apology should not be a list of excuses — it's always best to own up to your lapse of judgement and acknowledge it instead of writing it off as a "human" reaction.


With additional input from Imran Gabol in Lahore


Comments

M. Saeed Feb 05, 2021 07:25pm
Video clearly shows very tactful and aggressive reaction of the woman kicking and daring the singer-brother of her boyfriend.
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Rami Feb 05, 2021 08:08pm
He was probably brought up in a household where women are slapped and abuse no doubt!
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ING_DU Feb 05, 2021 08:17pm
Bilal does not have good track record..he should admit it
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SSA Feb 05, 2021 08:41pm
Who are these people, why are they in the news?
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Komodo Feb 05, 2021 09:02pm
Lo ji jungle ka qanoon chal raha hai yahan to
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Imran Feb 05, 2021 09:08pm
@M. Saeed, logically correct.
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Chrís Dăn Feb 05, 2021 09:55pm
Over masho girl friend of Bilal Saeedś brother. Over agressive.
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Ibrahim S Feb 05, 2021 10:03pm
@M. Saeed - That's a sheer lie or distorting the fact. Please watch again and see who initiated it. If someone attacks you what would you do. I will ask Bilal Saeed to try the same out side the land of pure . you will see his mug shot floating on the news media the same day. We are very intolerant and emotional people with weak or no law to protect the victim. At least we have this freedom in civilized counties. Tthe public don't assault or take law in their hands in verbal altercation. When they do, they get arrested and prosecuted . Can you say the same in the land of pure. Rich and privileged class, police , anyone with a chip on their shoulder don't hesitate to slap when they get upset.
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ABE Feb 05, 2021 10:18pm
Actions speak louder than words. Whoever believes his fake words, is dellusional!
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isha Feb 05, 2021 10:20pm
if he was married he would have said by now ask my wife she will tell you i know how to respect women
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Ahmed Feb 05, 2021 10:34pm
That was a horrible thing to do. In another country, nobody would have to file an FIR, the police would arrest him on their own based on the evidence clearly portrayed in that video.
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Ahmed Feb 05, 2021 10:36pm
Boycott this coward's films and songs.
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Zubair Feb 05, 2021 10:44pm
Even the man was hit but nobody will talk about it. Everyone champions for equality of genders but no one will raise the voice for the guy. Brilliant.
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Aamir Feb 05, 2021 10:46pm
Bilal Saeed... what a banker!
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Mahmood Feb 05, 2021 11:00pm
@M. Saeed The key word to focus in your comment is ''reaction" of the woman. Had she not been attacked by this character, she would not have reacted - in self-defense. No less than you would!
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Jahan Feb 05, 2021 11:28pm
Not okay
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Skeptic Feb 05, 2021 11:52pm
@M. Saeed For every action, there is always an equal and opposite ''reaction'. Elementary laws of phsyics!
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Awais M Feb 06, 2021 12:00am
Very unfortunate behavior of Bilal Saeed
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Awaz.... Feb 06, 2021 12:35am
Mr. Bilal Saeed, Yes, I can see in this video, how much you "respect" women and I am curious to know that you demonstrate same kind of respectful behavior at home also.
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Awaz.... Feb 06, 2021 12:36am
Mr. Bilal Saeed, Yes, I can see in this video, how much you "respect" women and I am curious to know that you demonstrate same kind of respectful behavior at home also. I mean with your wife, daughter and mom.
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Awaz.... Feb 06, 2021 12:42am
Dear Pakistanis, Are you the fan of this violent man? Is this your favorite singer? If you have any human decency then completely boycott this man.
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Maverick Feb 06, 2021 01:11am
You dont hit women without saying "you dont hit men" tells you about these wanna bees. You want to highlight plight of women but dont marginalise other gender as well.
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ak4pk Feb 06, 2021 01:33am
Damages caused should have been reported to the police and not used as a licence to launch an attack on his brother who by the looks of it was after some money which he did not get. The lady was not in the fray but was attacked by Bilal, it was an inexcusable act.
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Harambe Feb 06, 2021 04:23am
@M. Saeed : Is it Pakistani law that the police do not act legally--and issue a fine?
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Zara Feb 06, 2021 05:46am
Pakistan is at a very sad state unfortunately. Neither the women nor men know how to act with each other. This is what happens when people don’t know how to solve problems in civilized manner. So far from the real religion the whole popultion .
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Hadi Feb 06, 2021 06:12am
This is not a gender issue. Not commenting on the family fued becoming more than it needed to but from the perspective of women equality, both genders received the same treatment, so whats the issue?
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Bilal Feb 06, 2021 08:34am
Bilal Saeed and all those with him must be punished for beating a woman in public
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Sid Feb 06, 2021 08:49am
What a disgrace - Bilal should have controlled himself regardless of what was being said. Such behaviour is common in many societies but when you are a celebrity you have to be extra careful.
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Munsif Jan Feb 06, 2021 10:08am
Real men don't physically attack women. It was a cowardly act and he must admit it.
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Jaff Feb 06, 2021 11:54am
Hitting a women by a man is as wrong as vice versa, what come may be the circumstances.
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HomeSaver Feb 06, 2021 11:56am
Bilal was wrong in attacking the woman, it is not done. Even hitting his brother in public is not the acceptable thing..
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Aysha Feb 06, 2021 12:42pm
@Ibrahim S these brawls happen e ETT where, not something g unique to pakistan which you are spitting your hate against.
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Ahmed Feb 06, 2021 01:42pm
@Chrís Dăn Masho? Check that word again.
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AinOther Feb 06, 2021 01:44pm
Regrettable...bilal lost it.
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AinOther Feb 06, 2021 01:47pm
And violence isn't acceptable, whether against a woman or a brother or a celebrity.. at the same time we have to admit that we are missing perhaps the greater part of the incident. Hence, our lectures and verdicts must be less vitriolic and absolute.
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AinOther Feb 06, 2021 01:48pm
@Munsif Jan real women can assault unreal men's real belongings?
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AinOther Feb 06, 2021 01:50pm
@Bilal as if beating a woman or anyone in private were ok.
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Jo Feb 06, 2021 04:07pm
No justification on violence particularly against females is acceptable. If you're brother and his girlfriend had damaged your personal property then you should have called the police.
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Sam Feb 06, 2021 06:56pm
Bilal Saeed house furniture, TV etc were destroyed by this young lady and her boyfriend. Bilal Saeed was angry at the damage they did and Bilal rightly reacted the way he reacted.
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Jo Feb 07, 2021 12:08am
@Sam not justifiable reason to slap and kick particularly a female.
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Irfan ul Huq Feb 07, 2021 11:08pm
Violence has become an accepted norm in Pakistani society. It is being presented and portrayed on television as well. Recently I watched 1st few episodes of a drama . Brother slaps grown up sister twice father slap grown up son . This seems to be accepted by the writer the screen writer the producer and director. So that's what we are teaching our society anyway
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Humza Feb 09, 2021 03:47am
@M. Saeed Are you and I watching the same video? Bilal Saeed is clearly attacking the woman and it is unprovoked. In any other country of the world, he would be arrested - no questions asked but in Pakistan, some people condone unprovoked attacks on women.
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