Women protest against fashion show in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

A group of women held a protest march in the capital of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday against a fashion show that was organized recently and featured Kashmiri girls as models.

The hijab-clad protesters held placards and walked silently along the Boulevard Road in Srinagar, which runs along the famous Dal Lake and is frequented by tourists. A government-owned convocation center, where the fashion show took place, is situated along the road on the banks of the lake.

The placards urged women to wear the head covering, and carried messages such as, “It is not the cloth that suppresses women; it is the illiterate mind.”

Tahira Manzoor, a protester, told Anadolu Agency that dozens of like-minded women who were not representing any organization assembled to protest against the fashion show she said was a first step toward pushing Kashmiri women into “an abyss of immorality.”

“We don’t know who is organizing these shows but in the name of fashion obscenity is being promoted,” she said. “Today, our girls show bare arms. Tomorrow, they would be pushed into flesh trade. Already thousands of our youth are being consumed by drug abuse.”

Another protester, who requested anonymity, said shows like these have “state patronage” and are “aimed at presenting a rosy picture of a place where 12 militants were killed in the past 72 hours.”

Public protests have become rare since Aug. 5, 2019 when India scrapped autonomy of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir after imposing a military and communications lockdown.

Since then, New Delhi has led several delegations of foreign envoys to guided tours of the disputed region in a bid to demonstrate that people are happy with the decision.

The state has drawn flak from various quarters for promoting tourism, musical shows and other activities that strengthen the normalcy narrative amid rising concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

Disputed region

Kashmir is held by India and Pakistan in parts, but claimed by both in full. A small sliver of the region is also controlled by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965, and 1971 – two of them over Kashmir.

Some Kashmiri groups have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have been killed and tortured in the conflict since 1989.

Also read-

1 COMMENT

  1. If men have freedom to wear the dress they want then why women can’t have. This is a foolish protest which shows backward mindset.
    Muslim women should ideally protest against:
    1) Using women as child production factory.
    2) Not giving them freedom to work outside post marriage.
    3) Enforcing hijab.
    4) Nikah halala
    5) Polygamy.
    6) Animal rights etc..

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Stories

Protests erupt at NIT Srinagar over social media post ‘Insulting Prophet Mohammad’, Classwork suspened

0
Classwork came to a halt at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar on Wednesday following intense protests triggered by a student's controversial...

Kashmiri Journalist Fahad Shah released after 21 months in detention

0
Journalist Fahad Shah, the editor of The Kashmir Walla, has been released from custody a week after being granted bail by the Jammu and...

National Press Day: Kashmiri journalists face sedition and terrorism charges

0
By Muslim Mirror Staff On the occasion of India's National Press Day, which commemorates the importance of a free and vibrant press in a democratic...

Tribunal grants bail to Captain in Amshipora ‘Fake Encounter’ case

0
By Muslim Mirror Staff The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has suspended the life sentence of Army Captain Bhoopendra Singh, also known as Major Bashir Khan,...

We are Gau Mata country: Himanta on DMK MP’s comment

Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said India is a “Gau Mata” country and asserted that there is no dispute...

‘Here to make it easier for Muslims in India to go to Makkah, Madinah”: Saudi Minister of Hajj

New Delhi : Saudi Minister of Haj and Umrah Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah on Wednesday said “We are here to make it easier for...

31 years after Babri Mosque demolition: Perpetrators rule India

By Shamsul Islam Criminal Hindutva perpetrators instead of being punished rule India The RSS-BJP government of India led by a seasoned RSS whole-timer, Narendra Modi has...

Indian Army Major dismissed for ‘ties with Pakistani intelligence operative’

An Indian Army Major, who was recently dismissed from service by the President in October, is alleged to have been in contact with a...

Postpone probe into madrasas: UP madrasa board to Yogi govt

Lucknow : Following the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to initiate a probe into the availability of basic facilities and competent teachers at state-funded madrasas,...

Turkey, Qatar sign 12 agreements, issue joint declaration after high strategic committee meeting

DOHA, Qatar : Turkey and Qatar on Monday signed 12 cooperation agreements in various fields and the joint declaration of the 9th meeting of...

Anti-terror case: NIA searches in 5 J&K districts

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at several places in five districts of Kashmir valley as part of a...

Almost 1.9M Palestinian displaced across Gaza Strip since Oct. 7: UN

ISTANBUL : Almost 1.9 million people, or over 80% of the population, have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the UN...

Modi will become PM for third time: Badruddin Ajmal

Guwahati : All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief, Badruddin Ajmal said that the BJP’s victory in the three state Assembly elections have proved...

Saudi Arabia gears up to deliver world-class services to Hajj and Umrah performers

By Tareq Wahab In recognition of its historical obligation and with a deep sense of honor, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques government has...

Afghan tragedy unfolds in Pakistan

By Asad Mirza For the last two months the international attention has been focussed on the continuing Gaza crisis, yet in its background another human...

2022 sees 24% rise in crime against women, minors, SC/ST: NCRB report

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recently released its comprehensive data for 2022, shedding light on the surge in crime against women, children, Schedule...

Hindu young women will lose rights if they marry Muslims: Karnataka BJP leader

Dakshina Kannada : BJP leader Malavika Avinash asserted that Hindu young women who marry a Muslim would lose their rights. She also raised questions about...

Is the party now over for Mayawati and BSP in UP?

Lucknow : The Bahujan Samaj Party has miserably failed to arrest its downslide in politics. The BSP failed to open its account in Chhattisgarh, Madhya...

FIR against Kafeel Khan for ‘objectionable’ content in his book

Lucknow : A case has been registered against Kafeel Khan, a former doctor at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, and five unidentified people...