Patriarchy Turns Lethal in Pakistan

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the definition of control is “to exercise restraining authoritative or dominating influence over.” In many societies, this influence takes the form of patriarchy exerting control over people within the community, particularly women. Despite the spread of democratic ideals, this form of social control remains a dominant factor within contemporary societies. 

Patriarchy exerts its dominance in societies differing widely in religion and culture, from the United States to China to Islamic countries like Pakistan and Iran. Patriarchy is a social construct inherent in numerous religions, including major religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. As these societies continue to modernize with technology and more 21st century ideologies, such as increasing liberalism and feminism, those social constructs clash with controls enforced by religious and social leaders. However, contrary to popular belief, it’s not only outwardly religious societies like Islamic countries that fight this battle over social and cultural standards with patriarchy. France, a Western country with no official religion, passed a national law banning the wearing of hijabs and other face coverings in July of this year. 

Patriarchy is ubiquitous, and a particularly egregious example is in Pakistan, where human rights abuses and domestic violence occur every day to date, it has been ignored and thus condoned by Pakistani leaders. One recent, and particularly troubling, example is the case of Noor Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of Pakistani diplomat Shaukhat Mukadam, who was beheaded on July 20, 2021, by acquaintance Zahir Jaffer in a case of apparent domestic violence. According to CNN, “Mukadam's death may have been lost in Pakistan's crime statistics, if not for her status and Jaffer's family connections, as well as the affluent location of the killing in block F7, one of Islamabad's most exclusive neighborhoods.” 

“ As Pakistan continues to wrestle with this serious issue of patriarchal culture, people living in countries where they are granted freedom of expression must raise awareness of these long-standing violations of human rights in Pakistan and other patriarchic societies.”

Over two-thirds of Pakistani women are victims of domestic violence. Violence that occurs between married partners goes unreported, as Pakistani culture has evolved to include domestic violence as a cultural norm. Strict Islamic beliefs drive social norms, and the legal system in Pakistan is designed to keep survivors from speaking out and to keep abusers free from consequences. Pakistani lawyer and campaigner for women’s rights Sahar Bandial commented that the current Pakistani justice system sees domestic violence abuses as a “private matter” to stay between partners and within families. For Pakistani women, this reign of terror of femicide showed no sign of ending until the introduction of the Pakistan Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill. 

Passed by the Senate on June 21, 2021, the Pakistan Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill “calls for offenders to be fined or imprisoned for abusing women, children or vulnerable people.” Aiming to hold abusers accountable, this bill serves as a call to modernize a legal system that does not work for victims. Before passing, the bill was referred to the all-male Islamic Council, another inherent act of sexism as according to Nighat Dad, the Digital Rights Foundation founder, “it is not common for bills to be referred to the body.” 

This legislation has been a catalyst for feminist activists in Pakistan. However, seeing the Islamic Council and Pakistani government deliberate the legislation for such a long period of time is characteristic of how Pakistan treats the topic of violence against women.  

“ Strict Islamic beliefs drive social norms, and the legal system in Pakistan is designed to keep survivors from speaking out and to keep abusers free from consequences.”

The horrific death of Noor Mukadam has sparked a feminist revolution in Pakistan with echoes around the world. “The country cannot afford more Noors,” stated feminist author and columnist for Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, Rafia Zakaria. Protests in memoriam of Noor and against femicide in Pakistan have occurred in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London, and Dublin, as well as in Noor’s hometown and around Pakistan. In countries like the United States, protests are seen as a normal occurrence. Yet in Pakistan, these protests are unusual and are being suppressed by officials. In Faisalabad, Pakistan, a protest led by female activists was shut down by local authorities, alerting organizations such as Amnesty International. While feminist Pakistani activists have taken to the streets to protest, paint murals, and memorialize Noor, in the Pakistani government opposition to the Domestic Violence bill persists, and other government bills have been given priority over the bill. “‘It is shocking how my Bill, ‘Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2020’, has been silently omitted from the agenda,’" stated Pakistan People’s Party parliamentary leader Senator Sherry Rehman. As Pakistan continues to wrestle with this serious issue of patriarchal culture, people living in countries where they are granted freedom of expression must raise awareness of these long-standing violations of human rights in Pakistan and other patriarchic societies. While it took the death of a public figure’s daughter to finally incite change in Pakistan, activists both in and outside of Pakistan can be proactive in raising awareness of femicide and women’s rights before any other country experiences a loss like Noor.