Sherry Rehman Cannot Stand The ‘Vicious Jealousy’ Directed At Malala For Finding Happiness

malala asser

For many Pakistanis, finding fault with what Malala Yousufzai did or did not do, said, or did not say, is nothing new, but PPP Senator Sherry Rehman just can’t stand it.

The politician known for speaking her mind is not pleased with the negativity aimed towards the Nobel laureate following her marriage to Asser Malik earlier this month, especially by women who the Senator feels “should know better”.

Image: Twitter

Taking to Twitter, Rehman shared her shock and displeasure over the “vicious jealousy directed at Malala”.

“Shocked at the vicious jealousy directed at Malala as she celebrates what happiness she can find,” tweeted Rehman. “By elite women who should know better, who take few risks for their beliefs beyond holding up a witty poster on women’s day, and toddle off for lunch to Sind Club next door.”

Image: Twitter

“They see no problem in outraging over coffee about women’s rights at a club that bars women full voting rights at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), prohibits full membership, and calls itself a Gentleman’s Club, while its western colonial progenitors are shocked at Sindh Club’s 19th century rules & misogyny,” she added, also taking aim at the archaic rules of the prestigious club.

While the Senator did not specify who she is specifically directing her criticism towards, her words can apply to many with whom Malala’s marriage did not sit well for a number of reasons.

Some individuals were not happy at the Nobel laureate supposedly backtracking on her stance against marriage. In June, Malala had said that marriage might not be for her in an article in British Vogue.

Malala explains her decision to marry

Post marriage, Malala wrote in the same publication to elaborate on her previous statement and her decision to marry. The 24-year-old said her statement was her way of responding like she had “so many times before”.

Image: Twitter

“Knowing the dark reality many of my sisters face, I found it hard to think of the concept of marriage. I said what I had so often said before – that maybe it was possible that marriage was not for me.”

For her, her hesitancy never stemmed from being against the institution entirely. Rather it was its ‘patriarchal roots’ that made her question it. Besides elaborating on her previous statement. Malala also shed light on how she met her husband.

Regardless of the issues people have, it’s as simple as this: women should have the right to choose whether they want to get married or not, and at what age they want to. It is about freedom of choice.

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