Sexual harassment holds a place in every society, regardless of how developed or empowered it is. Be it with men or women, the harassment in the workplace, inside the family or on the streets, the act of harassment cannot be discarded from the society, yet people have always been afraid to speak about it.
Because of how the society begins to blame the victim, takes their opportunities away from them and treats them like they were the ones behind the vile actions, victims never come forward, regardless of how strong they are; they are the ones who have to face the consequences.
Similar To this Can Be Said in the Case of Meesha Shafi Who JUST Came Forward Regarding Sexual Harassment by None Other Than Ali Zafar
Meesha Shafi has always been vocal about her empowerment, feminism, and call for equality.
Just Recently She Participated in The Bike Rally As Well
JUST BE!
‘Be the change you wish to see’@girlsatdhabas #girlsonbikes ??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️? #YusraAmjad pic.twitter.com/vlv6oHO8Es
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) April 4, 2018
Her tweets and her ideas are the reflections of what she thinks about equality for women and how she has always shown her support for her gender. She has always stood for the harassment incidents and has spoken for the victim, and today she spoke for herself.
In a Tweet, She Shared on her Social Space, Meesha Shafi Shared How She has Been Sexually Harassed by her Co-Worker, Ali Zafar
She starts by writing the following:
“Today, I speak up because my conscience does not allow me to be silent anymore,” said Meesha in her statement. “If this can happen to someone like me, an established artist, then it can happen to any young woman hoping to break into the industry and that concerns me gravely.”
Meesha reflects on how the culture of silence needs to be let go of by saying the following:
“I have been subjected, on more than one occasion, to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young, or just entering the industry. This happened to me despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.”
Here’s the Official Tweet Meesha Shared on Twitter:
Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo pic.twitter.com/iwex7e1NLZ
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) April 19, 2018
Both, Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar are huge names in the Pakistani music and film industry. They have not only shined in the local industry but have also made their names in international industries; Meesha working in the Reluctant Fundamentalist and Ali Zafar working in various Indian films.
This is indeed a shocking revelation but kudos to Meesha Shafi for coming out and shedding light on something that has been frowned upon in the world.
Ali Zafar has yet to address the matter.
