Aurat March Condemns JUI-F’s Threats Against Activist Arfana Mallah
Aurat March has condemned Jamait Ulema-e-Fazl (JUI-F)’s attempt to ‘provoke violence’ against academic and women’s rights activist Dr Arfana Mallah.
JUI Sindh leader Rashid Mahmood Soomro directed his Hyderbad city Amir, Azam Jhangeri to register FIR against me. Becoz, I condemn arrest of faculty members under blasphemy law.Rahsid Mahmud since aurat march is targeting, it is threat for me, GoS take notice
@SindhCMHouse pic.twitter.com/40EJGtejiI— Dr.Arfana Mallah (@Arfanamallah66) June 10, 2020
All chapters of Aurat March have issued a press statement, reacting strongly to the JUI-F’s Hyderabad-based leader threat to file an FIR against Dr Arfana for condemning the arrest of Professor Sajid Soomro under blasphemy charges. “Such a public accusation is a deliberate and calculated attempt to provoke violence against Dr Mallah and her family. The threat to file an FIR is an attempt to silence her and stop the important grassroots work that she does,’’ the statement noted.
All chapters of Aurat March strongly condemn the threat to file an FIR against Dr. Arfana Mallah and ask that swift action be taken to ensure her immediate safety.#StandWithArfanaMallah pic.twitter.com/qQRLC9hdFM
— عورت مارچ لاہور – Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) June 10, 2020
The organisers of Aurat March noted that charges of blasphemy are often used to silent progressive voices and those standing against corrupt practices. “We demand the Sindh government and local police to ensure Dr Mallah’s immediate safety and protection.”
Dr Arfana is a member of Women Action Forum and a professor at University of Sindh, Jamshoro.
Sajid Soomro is a professor of Shah Abdul Latif University, who was arrested by police under blasphemy charges in Khairpur on Wednesday. The professor is also a writer known for his books on Sindhi-Mohajir unity.
He was arrested from his house in Ali Murad Mohalla, Khairpur city. According to eyewitnesses, police officials in at least four police vans cordoned off the area and tried to arrest Soomro, who closed the door of his house and called friends to inform them about the raid prior to his arrest.
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