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Ahmed Ali Butt, why?

Ahmed Ali Butt, why?

The actor equated the slogan ‘Mera jism, meri marzi’ to a western campaign that is being exploited locally.
Updated 07 Mar, 2020

"Mera Jism Meri Marzi" has divided the house.

There are those that say the slogan — fast becoming a marker of the movement this year — promotes promiscuity. But for the women who coined it, the offence lies not in the slogan, but in how centuries of oppressive social structures have taken women's fundamental right to bodily autonomy hostage.

Actor Ahmed Ali Butt, no stranger to controversy, joined in on the anti-slogan campaign.

In an Instagram story he recently posted, Butt equated the slogan as a western campaign that is being exploited locally and that wants to make prostitution legal.

He highlights what he calls the hypocrisy being "sold on social media and how everyone jumps on the # bandwagon."

Butt continues to 'inform' his uninitiated audience that that we shouldn't follow 'trends' and a 'foreign-funded' movement.

This is the same actor, who in his defence, works on media projects based on the same borrowed ideologies that he now claims to be hating on when it comes to women's rights. Now you can see why we can't sit this one out, even though we've just been through this.

To start with, if Butt, who seems to believe that feminism is a 'western' construct, had stepped out of his little bubble, he'd be surprised to find that the grassroots movement, which has slowly been taking shape over many years is a collective of women, different minority groups, and individuals who have mobilised around issues that affect those who don't have the privilege or the opportunity to speak and be heard.

By calling the local women's rights movement 'foreign-funded', Butt has discounted the beauty of organic initiatives that have a larger social resonance.

Secondly, if the actor had only taken the time and effort to research the slogan, which literally means that women want bodily autonomy and have the right, as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan, to make decisions concerning their own bodies, he wouldn't be quick to judge.

These decisions essentially include women having the right to make important calls about their bodies, their health, and really, their lives. Simple, isn't it? Of all the discourse that has been happening around Aurat March, if what Butt chooses to take away is that feminists somehow want to legalise prostitution, then that really says more about his interpretation of the slogan than it does about women's actual demands. The slogan is about consent, a concept clearly lost on Aurat March naysayers.

Also read: Before you get all worked up about Aurat March, read what it stands for

Feminists say the 'personal is political' because our homes are one of the first spaces where women undergo abuse, discrimination and control. The outside is even worse.

So we ask you Ahmed Ali Butt, do YOU have any evidence to support your claims? If not, please don't get on the bandwagon and 'follow trends'.

We wish you had read the Aurat March's charter of demands, rather than singling out one slogan out of thousands. Sorry to say, while your credentials don't qualify you to comment on this, we urge you nonetheless to think — and perhaps educate yourself about what the Aurat March stands for and who it represents — before you speak.

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

For those who are still misinterpreting the slogan and using it to comment against an already oppressed gender, we feel terrible that you are not able to see things for what they are, even with thousands doing the labour to break it down for you.

Comments

Shahida Khan Mar 06, 2020 08:43pm
"Meri zindagi mujhay jeenay do' is better slogan
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AZAM AKBAR Mar 06, 2020 09:02pm
Where is Pakistan going?
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Aadi Mar 06, 2020 09:17pm
Majority of our actors, lack & education intellectual capacity!
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Nadia Mar 06, 2020 09:26pm
So, Khalil's stance is right!
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N_Saq Mar 06, 2020 09:42pm
Nice! Anyway, it takes time for change to happen and one need to fight for it. Once it was the same in the West too and the women were controlled by men and the clergy as what they can and can't do but women in the West fought and fought (still fighting) to change the mindset and we can see the result because now in the West the women have been to the moon and are now planning to go to Mars whereas in Pak they are still fighting just to get out of the house and say and do what they want. The sad thing is first these men abuse and torture the women plus deny them every right they can but when women complain and protest then these men hide behind the curtain of culture and religion. They use religion to their advantage and thus has created a culture of their choice where women have no say in it. However, as the world come closer and women are now learning their rights from the West, these men are understandably getting nervous as they can see their grip on controlling women loosing.
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gghh Mar 06, 2020 09:45pm
You're absolutely right. People like him are absolute hypocrites.
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SMI Mar 06, 2020 09:54pm
Cheap publicity !!!
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Cris Dan Mar 06, 2020 09:58pm
Many men and some women seem to twist the basic concept behind the controversial slogan with intentional reasons. They do not wish any positively independent thoughts in minds of Pakistani women as it does not suit their closed minds. For argument sake-what is the problem in borrowing some western thoughts if they are good. Undoubetedly civilization is culminated in West in philosophy centuries ago by Plato and Aristotle and deserves respect -so why not to bowwow such good thinking. Such as "mera jism-meri merzi" is directly connected with self respect. Do these men believe in mens' self respect only? Sad ,if so and therefore this organized campaign is much needed .
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Hussein Mar 06, 2020 10:06pm
A very noble cause, that of gender equality, has been sabotaged by a few reckless individuals and irresponsible media reporting. Rather than focusing on the important issues and how to address them, how to work towards equal pay for example, the narrative has shifted towards a 'he said she said scenario'. Women empowerment has a long way to go in this country, but this media frenzy isn't helping it and proving detrimental to this cause.
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Reality Check Mar 06, 2020 11:55pm
Males should give up rights to their bodies as to the wishes of females. Let's see how that flies.
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Reality Check Mar 07, 2020 12:00am
Who are these show wannabees and old semi-educated dudes being given so much coverage by media regarding women's rights? Khalil U Rehman is everywhere with his over the top opinions. Is this guy the wise man of Pakistan?
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BrownFlower Mar 07, 2020 12:37am
And we "mistakenly" thought, he was one the saner ones out there. What an utter shame.
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Khanlala Mar 07, 2020 01:16am
Oh come on dawn I agree with him They're black sheep's under women rights
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Taufiq Mar 07, 2020 01:33am
"Sorry to say, while your credentials don't qualify you to comment on this, we urge you nonetheless to think — and perhaps educate yourself about what the Aurat March stands for and who it represents — before you speak.",,,??? Your credentials also dont qualify... Who are you to judge to say that you cannot qualify.... Have patience and listen to others ... Dont push/put your thinking on us... Have a difference of opinion and respect other opinion
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Concerned citizen Mar 07, 2020 02:35am
Honestly it is sickening to see people using religion to defend their misogynistic ideas. The same people bashing mera jism meri marzi are supporting stuff like mard ka jism Mard ki marzi (sexual violence) or thookna on aurat. They have no legitimate arguments against the demands of the march and instead stoop to bashing people associated with the march. No movement has all good or bad people. But that’s a separate discussion. Every sane person is dubbed western agent because let’s be honest only educated people can recognize the importance of a female whether it be running a country or nurturing a generation. The truth is whatever men can do so can women, that to in heels. Power to them for standing up for their rights. I do hope the keyboard warriors show up to these marches to show their solidarity instead of typing “mulk ke halat buhat kharab hain”
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Omer Malik Mar 07, 2020 03:50am
I think the slogan was made to make people fight, even though we all agree on these things but this slogan is illogical and inappropriate. But obviously the women in the country will not say it as that is the Pakistani mindset, not just a female one, it exists in all our circles.
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Dr. Gonorrhea Mar 07, 2020 04:19am
He ia 100% right.
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asif Mar 07, 2020 06:49am
Great writing. These men being in the stone age. I say let women be free, this is was Islam came to do. This is now a pendulum that was on one extreme and it must swing. It will go to other extreme before normalizing. Let it happen.
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ZQ Mar 07, 2020 07:20am
He also called himeself a "white boy" in one of the EP songs!!!
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Omer Malik Mar 07, 2020 08:19am
Finally, someone with some sense.
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Farhan Mar 07, 2020 08:21am
The previous slogan shown in 1980s picture is a better one and not as ambiguous as the newer one
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Kashif Manzoor Mar 07, 2020 08:39am
I believe the recent events have certainly increased awareness of women rights amongst our populace. It is heartening to see people’s attitude slowly changing towards women rights. The only request is that people on both side of the argument do it with respect and empathy. A very noble cause can be tarnished when it is presented with excessive aggression and disparaging comments for the people on the other side of your argument. It’s not the slogan that is the problem it’s how some people voice it with an attitude of shoving it in someone else’s face that causes the impact to be reduced. Every women deserve respect and freedom - how they use that is also their prerogative. Men have to understand that while we may be physically stronger it’s the women who are special. And being special always trumps physical strength as men no longer have to hunt for food. So use your strength to respect how special women are not to suppress them.
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Pakistani Mar 07, 2020 09:03am
"The actor equated the slogan ‘Mera jism, meri marzi’ to a western campaign that is being exploited locally". Sir, ' Mera jism, teri marzi ' is more local than 'Mera jism, meri marzi'. Why do you think people will exploit 'Mera jism, meri marzi'?
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jaredlee Mar 07, 2020 11:45am
When Pakistani muslims understand the core of Islam, they will not be worried about joining or starting any movement. Islam gives all rights to men and women, just study it and reflect on it, then there won't be a need for slogans. Instead men AND women will come together to support each other w/o any foreign funding. The key is to ignore preachers on TV, instead focus on the SPIRITUAL aspect of Islam that promotes UNCONDITIONAL LOVE--Sufism!!
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thinking Mar 07, 2020 12:31pm
@Farhan your comparing a slogan 40 years before with current one. Shows your mindset
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Parvez Mar 07, 2020 01:11pm
This is what happens when small minds get a public stage to voice opinions on subjects they fully do not understand.
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Nadeem Mar 07, 2020 01:42pm
"We wish you had read the Aurat March's charter of demands, rather than singling out one slogan out of thousands." Can you please share link or PDF in the article as well for everyone's benefit. I cannot seem to find it any where.
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Sajid Mar 07, 2020 07:50pm
Cherry-pick slogans, distort them, then project the twisted meaning to public in way that makes people outrageous and the movement despicable. To make their narrow-mindedness more saleable, invoke religion and western conspiracy to undermine our cultural values. The reactions Aurat March generally and the slogan 'mera jism meri marzi' have evoked sufficiently proves how deeply patriarchal our society is and how entrenched its norms are.
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Ahmed Mar 09, 2020 10:09am
Brilliant Ahmed!! I stand by his views. Perfectly portrayed.
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Shariq Mar 09, 2020 11:07am
Please don't be defensive, there is NOTHING WRONG in this slogan "Mera Jism, meri marzi". YES, abortion is women right, NO to organ sale, NO to prostitution neither in Pakistan nor in any other place in the world.
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Laila Mar 09, 2020 04:46pm
@jaredlee can you prove your claim of foreign funding? No. Then why do you claim it? What's the point of these conspiracy theories?, it seems to be a standard accusation whenever we don't like or understand something. Islam gave everybody rights, yes indeed, rights that the same Pakistani anti-march protesters, if they knew, would claim are western, liberal, modern, feminist when in fact they came with Islam 1400 years ago. That's how much ignorance there is. But where are those Islamic rights? Nowhere. Because what's written, is not what is practised.
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