Pakistani women at the rendezvous for the women's march despite the threats
The fifth edition of the Aurat March, the women's march, took place in Islamabad.
March 8, 2022 AFP - FAROOQ NAEEM
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
This March 8, 2022 is the fifth edition of the Aurat March, the women's march in Pakistan.
The organizers have maintained the mobilization despite the threats against them.
Last year some of them were charged with blasphemy, which is considered a crime in Pakistan and carries the death penalty.
But the women are there anyway.
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With our correspondent in Islamabad
,
Sonia Ghezali
The colorful signs are numerous above the heads.
On one of them is written: “
We want freedom and security
”.
On another: “
Stop forced marriages and conversions.
»
Among the walkers is Marvich, a 30-year-old social worker.
“
I can say with absolute certainty that at least 90-95% of women have been victims of harassment at work, in the street.
We need to speak out against this.
To be able to walk the streets with confidence we must walk for our rights.
»
“The space is shrinking for women”
Perched in the back of a van, microphone in hand, feminist activist Tahira Abdullah, human rights defender and major figure of feminism in Pakistan, does not mince her words.
“
In Pakistan the space is shrinking for women.
Especially for those who are liberal, modern, enlightened.
Religious extremist militants are taking up more and more space, they are advancing more and more with the support of the state, being protected and supported.
So we have to keep fighting, to fight, we have to keep going further, even further.
»
The marchers are surrounded by a security cordon of police and anti-terrorist forces.
Two years ago, extremist religious activists threw stones at the participants.
Voices from the Jinnah Ground:
“I march for every Baloch women”
“Aurat hee aurat ki muhafiz hoti hai”#AuratMarch2022 #ChaloChaloJinnahGround pic.twitter.com/g08GYVvY1o
— Aurat March - عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) March 8, 2022
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