On sexual harassment

On 19th April 2018, Meesha Shafi, a well-established Pakistani musician and actress, broke the silence on facing sexual harassment at the hands of her colleague, Ali Zafar. Since then, other accounts have also come forward, namely, Leena Ghani and Humna Raza. Troublingly, what we have seen in the following weeks are the victims being blamed, their voices discredited, while counter narratives are forged, favouring the perpetrator.

As artists, writers, and cultural practitioners, we stand with Meesha Shafi, and all other survivors of sexual harassment that have come forward, or are yet to be vocal about their trauma. Furthermore, in this letter, we reject the larger system of patriarchy which holds the reputation of an abuser above the well-being of the survivor, perpetuating a culture of silence around sexual harassment and abuse, and systematically reprimanding those that do come forward.

As with the film industry, the art world in Pakistan too is structured by sexism and misogyny. For many, the art school and art galleries are experienced as predatory spaces of exploitation, sexual harassment and abuse. Those in positions of power and authority – be they well established artists, curators, collectors or art school professors/mentors – routinely prey on vulnerable students and emerging artists. When survivors do find the courage to speak up and report instances of sexual harassment, their complaints are often not taken seriously and are summarily dismissed.

Some art schools have recently organized seminars on sexual harassment. While this is a first step in the right direction, we demand institutions to take a more direct stance against sexual harassment by standing with survivors and holding those in positions of power accountable. It is important that institutes follow up these initial dialogues with concrete steps such as instituting / enforcing sexual harassment policies that can lead to the creation of safer spaces. Nothing short of that is acceptable.

In Meesha Shafi’s case, many people, including members of the arts community, have been quick to delegitimize the validity of sexual harassment claims by accusing the victim of using such stories to ‘advance’ their career and questioning the time it took to report the incident, to mention just a few examples. There are also those who suggest that the career choice of being in the entertainment industry is in itself an open invitation for men to sexually exploit women. These are all gender-biased, archaic, and irrelevant allegations that only serve the purpose of exonerating harassers of any accountability or responsibility for their actions.

Sexual harassment is traumatic, and it takes a great deal of courage to speak up about it, especially by those under the scrutiny of the public eye. Processing this on a psychological level, while measuring the further consequences of speaking up on their career, character, as well as family, is often what results in many victims never coming forward. Though laws exist, such as The Protection of Women Against Harassment at the Workplace Act of 2010, we find, more often than not, such clauses further aide the accused and the system to silence the voice of the victim / survivor. Moreover, the law is unclear or absent when concerning sexual harassment in social settings – in particular affecting artists for whom there is a blur between ‘work’ and ‘social’ due to the field lacking a formal structure in the country.

Listening to survivors, and believing them unconditionally, is a crucial part of the process of individual and collective healing and justice. It is also the only way to face up to the magnitude of sexual harassment in our communities. We believe it is imperative to re-evaluate the current approach towards what we consider ‘evidence’ of such incidents. It is critical that we allow each of these stories to come forward, without judgement, so that patterns of sexual harassment as endemic can be recognized, and the law on this issue subsequently broadened.

#metoo #timesup

1. Natasha Malik, visual artist, educator
2. Abdullah Qureshi, visual artist, researcher, cultural producer
3. Anushka Musa, visual artist, educator
4. Amra Khan, visual artist, educator
5. Faraz Aamer Khan, visual artist, educator
6. Sarah N. Ahmad, urbanist, public programmer, rights activist
7. Natasha Jozi, visual artist, educator
8. Saba Khan, visual artist, educator
9. Ayesha Nadeem, lawyer, cultural practitioner, activist
10. Zara Asgher, visual artist, educator
11. Aziz Sohail, writer, curator
12. Ayesha Jatoi, visual artist
13. Saher Sohail, educator
14. Farida Batool, visual artist, educator
15. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, performance artist, visual artist, organizer
16. Sahyr Sayed, visual artist
17. Shahana Rajani, visual artist
18. Zahra Malkani, visual artist
19. Fazal Rizvi, visual artist
20. Veera Rustomji, visual artist, writer
21. Elham Rahmati, visual artist
22. Vidha Saumya, visual artist
23. Ali Akbar Mehta, visual artist
24. Uzair Amjad, visual artist
25. Yaminay Chaudhri, visual artist
26. Shayan Rajani, writer, educator
27. Fiza Khatri, visual artist
28. Maha Minhaj, visual artist
29. Zahrah Ehsan, visual artist, educator
30. Vidisha S. Fadescha, artist, curator
31. Farazeh Syed, visual artist
32. Sara Khan, visual artist
33. Nour Aslam, art manager, curator
34. Hajra Haider Karrar, curator, writer
35. Shumita Didi Sandhu, filmmaker, cultural activist
36. Naira Mushtaq, visual artist, educator
37. Ferwa Ibrahim, visual artist, educator
38. Marcel Shawld, theatre practitioner
39. Simone Buesch-Kueng, art historian
40. Efa Mühlethaler, visual artist
41. Mohsin Sayeed, concerned citizen, social / cultural commentator
42. Zahra Khan, curator
43. Leena Ghani, visual artist, activist
44. Maheen Khan, fashion designer
45. Nurjehan Mawaz-Khan, architect
46. Asif Akhtar, writer
47. Amna Shah Asad, interior designer
48. Eman Faiz, design strategist 
49. Faris Shafi, musician, actor
50. Anam Bhatti, visual artist, community worker
51. Anbrin Qureshi, art manager, concerned citizen
52. Kami Sid, fashion model, actress, trans activist
53. Muhammad Ali, multi-disciplinary visual artist, performance artist
54. Sruthi Ravi, architect
55. Nida Khan, artist, educator, mother to a young girl
56. Andleeb Rana, journalist
57. Zohra Rahman, designer 
58. Hena Ali Naeem Khan, design researcher, educator
59. Mehreen Murtaza, multidisciplinary artist
60. Waqas Khan, visual artist
61. Raza Rumi, writer, journalist, educator
62. Saim Sadiq, filmmaker
63. Sahar Shafqat, educator, writer
64. Urooj Arshad, activist, educator
65. Raja Changez Sultan, visual artist
66. Zaineb Najeeb, fine artist
67. Hiba Sadia, architect
68. Madyha Leghari, visual artist
69. Mahnoor Malik, visual artist
70. Zurain Z. Imam, entertainment, fashion & lifestyle writer
71. Khadija Rahman, designer
72. Samar Raza, architect
73. Tahira Noreen, visual artist
74. Musa Jadoon, architect, educator
75. Nabah Ali, architect, educator
76. Khadijah Shah, fashion designer
77. Rehan Bashir, fashion designer, classical dancer
78. Anushay Malik, writer, researcher
79. Numair A. Abbasi, visual artist, writer, educator
80. Amal Uppal, artist, illustrator
81. Sydra Junaid, educator, writer
82. Zohra Latif, architect
83. Tanya Warnakulasuriya, writer
84. Andrea Saemann, performance artist
85. Azanat Mansoor, visual artist, educator
86. Bina Shah, writer
87. Kamil Ahsan, writer, doctoral student
88. Mariam Zaeem, interior & furniture designer
89. Myda Raza, fashion model
90. Aysha Raja, indie bookseller
91. Huma Hamid Faiz, painter
92. Zoha Khan, visual artist
93. Maryam Hussain, visual artist, educator
94. Reham Sharbaji, cultural practitioner
95. Fahad Naveed, visual artist, journalist, filmmaker
96. Vivek Mansukhani, theatre director, actor
97. Nudrrat Khawaja, media & communications professional
98. Eeshita Asad, arts facilitator, poet
99. Mahwash Ajaz, writer
100. Olivia Jaques, artist, cultural worker, curator
101. Shoghakat Mlké-Galstyan, dancer, actress, cultural manager, lecturer
102. Sumbul Khan, arts for development practitioner
103. Hajra Haq, marketing manager
104. Shehzil Malik, designer, illustrator
105. Omar Kasmani, cultural anthropologist
106. Ahmer Naqvi, digital media professional
107. Aziza Ahmad, graphic designer, illustrator
108. Minhal Sadiq, furniture designer
109. Mona Mudasir, writer, blogger
110. Sabahat Zehra, former cultural manager, art history grad student
111. Zaibinda Aqib, media student
112. Zehra Nasir, marketing associate
113. Hnin Ei Hlaing (Snow), filmmaker
114. Dr. Safieh Shah, researcher, writer, humanitarian
115. Sophia Balagamwala, visual artist
116. Annie Kilde Bajwa, film festival coordinator
117. Khazina Siddiqui, marketing student, writer
118. Sarah Kazmi, artist, researcher
119. Sameer R. Shami, filmmaker, musician
120. Hirra Anjum, PhD scholar
121. Misbah Uddin, musician, music producer
122. Iva Sanjek, cultural worker
123. Mara Züst, artist, art historian
124. Samita Qureshi, painter
125. Marria Khan, artist, illustrator
126. Khuram Javed, creative & art director, electronic music producer, multimedia artist
127. Hija Kamran, C4D Specialist, researcher
128. Faisal Yaqoob, academic
129. Ushna Shah, actor
130. Amira Mahmood, academic, visual artist
131. Tanya Sani, artist, curator, director
132. Rabia Hassan, visual artist, filmmaker
133. Saba Hamid, actor
134. Sohail Abdullah, visual artist
135. Sahar Ansari, printmaker, illustrator
136. Marvi Mazhar, architect
137. Hira Khan, visual artist
138. Arooj Aftab, music composer, performer
139. Reem Khurshid, illustrator, writer, editor
140. Farwa Hassan, visual artist, actor
141. Mariah Lookman, artist, historian, occassional curator
142. Nisma Chauhan, journalist
143. Nudrat Kamal, educator, writer
144. Mahak Jiwani, filmmaker
145. Muneera Batool, student of theatre & interdisciplinary digital media & performance
146. Haider Ali Akmal, visual artist, design researcher
147. Nur Ibrahim, writer, TV producer
148. Uzair Ibrahim, writer
149. Amna Mawaz Khan, dancer, choreographer
150. Angeline Malik, actor, producer, director
151. Frieha Altaf, CEO catwalk event management and productions
152. Meher Mumtaz, brand strategist
153. Faraz Chandio, journalist, social worker
154. Mariyam Nizam, heritage architect
155. Umer Khan, teacher, musician
156. Seyhr Jalil, visual artist, educator, art writer
157. Iftikhar Dadi, art historian
158. Umer Butt, grey noise
159. Yusra Amjad, writer, school teacher
160. Mehrunnisa Khan, designer
161. Ayesha Ali, fine art student
162. Maleeha Chaudhry, creative director, daaman
163. Adnan Haider, TV anchor, actor, journalist
164. Razia Sadik, researcher, educator
165. Sabyn Javeri, author
166. Amna Suheyl, visual artist, educator
167. Maha Ahmed, artist
168. Juju Haider, stylist
169. Sana Zulfiqar, architect, photographer
170. Bakhtawar Mazhar, theatre practitioner
171. Mehreen Hashmi, curator
172. Zarmina Rafi, writer
173. Saira Ansari, researcher, writer
174. Mithu Sen, visual & performance artist, poet
175. Omar Wasim, artist
176. Waleed Zafar, visual artist, educator
177. Azka Shahid, writer, editor
178. Sanem Maher, journalist
179. Eeman Khan, visual artist, production designer
180. Ali Zaidi, artist, healer
181. Nisha Hassan, visual artist
182. Aima Yusaf, interior architect, educator
183. M. Imran Khan, photographer, marketing consultant, farmer
184. Hera Naguib, poet, educator
185. Tahira Noreen, visual artist, educator
186. Kishwari Kiani, visual artist, educator
187. Shandana Minhas, writer
188. Natasha Maqsood, creative director
189. Laila Rahman, visual artist, educator
190. Asma Abbas, academic, educator
191. Adnan Madani, artist, writer
192. Mira Sethi, actor, writer
193. Xaneb Saddozai, architect
194. Masshal Saif, architect, designer
195. Yusra Alvi, architect, designer
196. Arfa Khan, architect, illustrator
197. Sarwat Gilani Mirza, artist, entrepreneur
198. Purva Mehak Dhoot, creative director
199. Faryal Ahsan, visual artist, writer, art director
200. Fawad Khan, theatre practitioner
201. Nadia Malik, fashion model
202. Hurmat ul Ain, visual & performance artist, educationist
203. Sofia Sabbina Malik, visual artist, Reiki master
204. Gulraiz Khan, lecturer
205. Naila Mahmood, visual artist
206. Umer Khan, musician, lecturer
207. Fazeelat Aslam, director, journalist
208. Mehek Saeed, fashion journalist, stylist
209. Hamza Bokhari, fashion designer
210. Mamoona Riaz, visual artist, educator
211. Kanza Bano, architect
212. Zara Mahmood, artist, educator
213. Farsam Zafar, visual artist
214. Abdul Rehman, Artist, Aesthete
215. Jamal Rahman, Music Producer
216. Suleman Aqeel Khilji, visual artist
217. Bushra Amir, painter
218. Iffat Omar, actor
219. Karen David, visual artist, actor
220. Alyzay Sultan Ali, teacher, filmmaker
221. Haris Alam Khan, architect
222. Janevi Faiz, visual consultant
223. Lala Irfan, designer
224. Nadia Fazal Jamil, actor
225. Rohail Qasim, fashion model, paediatric surgeon
226. Marya Javed, writer, filmmaker
227. Mavra Ghaznavi, activist, comedienne, lawyer, development consultant
228. Abi Tariq, artist
229. Arsalan Ihsan, oxford alumnus, model
230. Ayesha Omar, actor, host, singer, artist
231. Bibi Hajra Cheema, architect, cartoonist
232. Nandini Muthuswamy, musician
233. Maheen Taseer, designer
234. Purniya Awan, women’s rights activist, feminist blogger, publicist
235. Zahra Hidayatullah, lifestyle journalist
236. Hareem Shairani, visual artist, art teacher
237. Zara Peerzada, model
238. Noormah Jamal, visual artist, educator, illustrator
239. Salar Faiz, interpretive dancer
240. Zeresh John, editor
241. Haider Maqsood, lifestyle journalist
242. Eman Suleman, model, student
243. Tabish Habib, filmmaker 
244. Naveed Amjad, designer, filmmaker
245. Babar Suleman, artist, educator
246. Shan Iman, music producer
247. Rabeea Arif, graphic designer, educator
248. Asmaa Mumtaz, style director, makeup artist, visual artist
249. Jamil Rizvi, mixed martial artist, kickboxing instructor
250. Aisha Abid Hussain, visual artist, art educator
251. Rabbiya Abdullah, entrepreneur, visual artist
252. Saba Eitizaz, journalist
253. Mohammad Moiz Ali, fashion marketer, fashion influencer
254. Aqsa Shakil, artist, professor
255. Lubna Sami, interior designer, promoter of art & culture, human rights activist
256. Sameen Khan, journalist, writer
257. Mahmood Rahman, musician
258. Usman Latif, sound therapist, frequency healer, Tibetan Gong & classical musician
259. Hassan Javid, academic, columnist
260. Mehek Raza Rizvi, fashion & lifestyle journalist
261. Muhammad, photographer
262. Faizan Yousaf, documentary filmmaker, journalist, overall hopeless romantic
263. Omayr Waqar, hairstylist, makeup artist
264. Suzannah P. Baron, writer, journalist
265. Sabeeh Ahmad, filmmaker
266. Anna Leghari, fashion designer, blogger
267. Shayma Saiyid, dancer, choreographer, writer
268. Manzar Qureshi, broadcaster, writer, journalist
269. Shahzia Sikander, visual artist
270. Mina Malik-Hussain, writer, teacher, performer, activist
271. Khaqan Shahnawaz, lawyer, model
272. Seniha Mubashir, interior designer
273. Maheen Sabeeh, journalist
274. Tayyaba Nasir, student, writer, (low-key) artist
275. Tanvir Fatima Rehman, painter, educationist , interior designer, art director
276. Nayab Shami, art consultant, curator
277. Ipshita Sen, entrepreneur 
278. Sarmad Khoosat, actor, director
279. Zebunnisa Hamid, film researcher, educator
280. Zain Ahsan, music producer, musician
281. Nussebah Osman, visual artist
282. Neha Ahmad, architect, body artist, blogger
283. Mohsin Shafi, visual artist
284. Nabeela Ahmad, communications lead, barbican estate office
285. Hira Nabi, visual artist, filmmaker
286. Farhan Ali, visual artist
287. Saadia M. Mirza, architect, researcher
288. Arham Tausif, communications, design consultant, writer
289. Haseem uz Zaman, journalist, photographer
290. Sanam Mehdi RIzvi, writer, head of dawn films
291. Nadeem baig, film & tv director
292. Armeena Khan, actor
293. Erum Shahid Ahmad, tv producer
294. Suhaee Abro, dancer, actor
295. Samina Ahmed, actor
296. Ujala Hayat, visual artist
297. Musab Iqbal, doctoral researcher
298. Hassan Tahir, student counsellor, writer
299. Afshan Shafi, writer
300. Moeed Tariq, fashion designer, writer, editor
301. Kinza Razzak, actor
302. Kiran Saeed, artist, educator
303. Anjum Alix Noon, visual artist
304. Hashim Ali, art director
305. Akifa Mian, film director
306. Hasna Sami, cultural and social media manager
307. Faran Tahir, actor
308. Beena Sarwar, journalist, editor, teacher
309. Riffat Ullah, journalist
310. Alena Peerzada, director programs, rafi peer
311. Mehar Bano, actor, filmmaker
312. Saulat Ajmal, visual & performance artist, educator
313. Krittika Sharma, entrepeneur
314. Hassaan Ashraf, artist
315. Rizwan Ashraf, executive director marketing, 92 News
316. Najah Shahid, media & communications student
317. Lali Khalid, visual artist, educator
318. Arjumand Rahim actor, producer
319. Bushra Ansari, actress
320. Vaneeza Ahmad, entrepreneur, artist
321. Sohai Ali Abro, actor
322. Zahra Jewanjee, visual artist, educator

   Allies

1. Maryam Haq, lawyer
2. Nadia Laghari, lawyer
3. Bushra Hamid
4. Farhan Tahhir
5. Azmeh Khan, lawyer
6. Zainab Noor Rahman, mental health counsellor, educator
7. Rafay Alam, environmentalist
8. Mariam Shah, entrepreneur 
9. Hassaan Khan, psychotherapist, educator
10. Hooria Khan, lawyer, women’s rights activist
11. Faqeer Mohammad Laghari, engineer
12. Ali, lecturer
13. Atif Ehsan, technical support executive
14. Bushra Azhar, lawyer
15. Zoya Rehman, researcher, lawyer, activist/organizer
16. Fawad Haider, coordination engineer
17. Narmeen Altaf, health, gender & development consultant
18. Khadija Bulledi, student
19. Sarah Farooq, lawyer
20. Sophia Hameed
21. Zuhaira Farooq, software engineer
22. Bushra Amir
23. Arooj Ismail, co-founder GharPar
24. Musa Shahid, electrical engineer
25. Maria Mustafa, educator, clinical psychologist
26. Beenish Tariq, business director
27. Asfia Fazal, executive business partner
28. Mira Hashmi, educationist
29. Unsa Bukhari, student
30. Sarah Suhail, lawyer
31. Simi Kamal, women’s rights activist, water specialist
32. Sabahat Nawaz, researcher, educator
33. Anna Fanelli, translation project manager
34. Amira Khan, doctor
35. Frédérique Nourry, administrative manager
36. Asif Haroon William, senior manager mergers & acquistions
37. Nida Kirmani, associate professor, sociology
38. Anam Khan, lawyer
39. Danyal Abbas Sopariwala, banker
40. Moshay, marketing head
41. Zeesham Zafar Hashmi, lawyer, lecturer of law
42. Sahar Hussain, lawyer
43. Saiff Akbar, lawyer
44. Hamid Faiz, airplane pilot
45. Sidra Akram, lawyer
46. Nwa Abbas, teacher
47. Roshail Tarar, software engineer
48. Sumera Rashid
49. Umair Hameed
50. Sadaf Aijaz, art & culture supporter
51. Shazia Omar
52. Babar Manzoor, chartered accountant
53. Anushka Peracha, counsellor
54. Amina Samee, integrative psychotherapist, counsellor
55. Zainab Durrani, lawyer
56. Hafsa S. Ahmad, lawyer
57. Olivia Qasir, student
58. Michelle Shahid, lawyer, blogger
59. Ramsha Zafar, student, blogger
60. Aroosha Mansuri
61. Lubna Awan, barrister
62. Ameer Gilani, realtor, Yoga instructor
63. Taimur Ahmed, educationist, engineer
64. Zainab Chugtai, founder bully proof, lawyer
65. Reeha Hafeez, yoga instructor
66. Ambreen khan, banker
67. Nabiha Meher Shaikh, feminist educator
68. Ghazala Kazim, activist
69. Zoha Qureshi, optometrist
70. Sarah Malik, personal trainer, fitness blogger
71. Nabeela Ahmed
72. Khadija Sid, lawyer, activist
73. Wara Haider
74. Shmyla Khan, lawyer, activist
75. Qasim Ali Mureed
76. Zahra Khan, entrepreneur 
77. Fareeha Yazdani, realtor
78. Saba Sajid, safeguarding team manager
79. Daniya Ahmed, student
80. Nighat jibran
81. Bushra Gohar, politician, human rights activist
82. Mujib ur Rehman
83. Dr. Zebunnisa Sohail, emergency physician
84. Saadia Toor, educator

* if you would like to become a signatory, please leave your name and position relevant to the cultural sector in the comment section. We will regularly update the list accordingly.