Pakistan: CFWIJ condemns the verbal harassment against Ailia Zehra

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February 24, 2021- Journalist and managing editor for “NayaDaur Media'', Ailia Zahra endured misogynistic and sexist remarks from infamous Pakistani writer Khalil ur Rehman Qamar. Alia was invited as a panelist in a T.V. show on Saturday, February 20. During the discussion, Mr. Khalil ur Rehman started yelling at the journalist. When he was countered for his tone, the writer put down his mike and left the live show. Reportedly he also labeled Ailia, a RAW agent while leaving the premises. The incident was followed by a vicious online campaign with threats and abuse against the journalist. CFWIJ condemns the writer’s sick behaviour and urges press regulation bodies in the country to take substantial steps to bar him from T.V appearances.  

The writer Khalil ur Rehman Qamar is notorious for his misogynistic behavior yet he often gets invited to various platforms to share the point of view on issues related to women. This time the writer attacked Ailia Zahra during a live T.V show when he was corrected to watch his tone. Ailia shared a brief clip from the program on Twitter stating, “Just had a horrible encounter with toxic masculinity. Khalilur Rehman Qamar lost his marbles during a talk show when I called him out over his hateful rhetoric. He left the show while yelling at the top of his lungs. Called me a RAW agent and spewed sexist slurs.” Reportedly Khalil ur Rehman also accused Ailia “a RAW agent” while leaving the premises of T.V. station.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism reached out to Ailia and she quoted that “The viral clip shows Khalilur Rehman’s toxic behaviour during the show, but what he said off-air is worse. I was told by the crew members that when they went out of the studio to convince him to return to the show, he termed me a RAW agent and asked the producer as to why he invited him to sit with “women who don’t cover their heads”. It is clear that he was trying to use religion and ‘traitor’ cards against me as a tool to dismiss my views.”

Ailia further stated that “The clip from the show has led to attacks against me on social media with Rehman’s supporters saying that I ‘deserved’ it. Some of these messages and comments are also inciting violence against me and I am contemplating legal action against trolls so this cycle of abuse, that has continued for three days now, can finally end. I see this online abuse against me in the context of the social media campaign against Aurat March and feminists which begins every year in the lead up to the march. However, I remain in high spirits and won’t be silenced by misogynistic backlash.” 

This is not the first time that Ailia had to endure online abuse and harassment. She was subjected to vicious online threats in past for her coverage of the murder of Shaheena Shaheen. Ailia had filed a complaint in FIA against the smear online campaign. Ailia mentioned in her complaint that how the abuse and threats had caused her mental anguish. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism asks the press bodies and cyber crime authorities in Pakistan to curtail the trend of abusing women journalists. We urge that the Electronic Media regulators will hold the channels accountable who invite misogynists like Khalil ur Rehman Qamar. We offer our full solidarity to Ailia Zehra. CFWIJ believes that no journalist should ever face such harassment and this must be condemned.