CAIRO,
May 15, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Pakistani activists and journalists
have condemned police brutality against women who defied a ban on
running in a mixed road race through eastern Lahore city Saturday, May
14.
The
government’s action has exposed the truth about its claims of being
liberal, Asma Jahangir, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
chairperson, told the Daily Times on Sunday, May 15.
The
mixed rally was propagated by HRCP and the Joint Action Committee for
Peoples Rights, the organizers, as an event to raise awareness of
violence against women and promote “enlightened moderation”.
When
the run took off, police started chasing the runners and bunging them
into vans and the race was cancelled because of the arrests.
Around
40 people were taken into custody, including Jahangir, HRCP’s
Secretary General Hina Jilanni and former federal law minister and
rights activist Iqbal Haider.
The
arrestees were set free hours later and staged a sit-in outside the
Race Course Police Station for the release of activists Jan Nisar
Baloch and Shazia who were not released.
The
city government had turned down the organizers’ request to hold the
run because of “negative police reporting”.
A
spokesman for the district government said they would have allowed the
run if women participants had put on “suitable dress”, and the run
was held inside the Qaddafi stadium.
Authorities
banned women from such races after hardliners attacked a similar event
last month, saying women's participation was against Islam.
Islam
is not against sport, rather it encourages it. As far as women’s
participation in sport is considered, Islam lays down rules that
create balance between a Muslim woman’s right to practice sport and
the necessity of preserving her dignity and honor.
Women’s
practicing sport must not adorn themselves for the purpose of being
seen by men, must not unveil any of their private parts that Islam
orders them to cover and must not intermingle with men in any way that
brings them physically close together.
Police
Brutality
 |
|
When
the run took off, police started chasing the runners and bunging
them into vans
|
Jehangir
said the government and police “have stooped to the lowest level by
shamelessly tearing off women’s clothes and debasing them by baring
them in public”.
“The
police targeted my clothes. A lady police officer told me they had
orders to be strict and to tear off the participant’s clothes,”
she charged.
The
activist said she would lodge a complaint against the police officials
who tore her clothes and hit her.
She
also said that the HRCP will hold a meeting soon to plan its strategy.
Jugnoo
Mohsin, a journalist and human rights activist, lambasted the
government’s “high handedness and police brutality”.
“Is
this democracy when women are physically beaten by the police for
holding a peaceful mixed-run?” she asked.
Mohsinm
said police tried to arrest me but “they let me go when they found
out I’m a journalist.”
Other
activists and journalist also condemned “this face of enlightened
moderation” and the physical and verbal abuse of women.
Farooq
Haider Maudodi, the son of Jamaat-e-Islami founder, who participated
in the mixed-run with his wife, condemned the police brutality.
However,
Ahmed Salman Butt, son of Hafiz Salman Butt, the incumbent
Jamaat-e-Islami leader, and others chanted slogans against the race
organizers and were also arrested.
The
Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) also held a token protest against the HRCP
run.
