Islamic University girl student slapped and kicked by Jamiat thug

There is a dynamic tension emerging from the shadows, and it concerns the slow change in the role and place of women in our society. Women are beginning to push back against the forces of extremism and the latest example of the pushback has occurred in the International Islamic University of Islamabad. Women students staged a seven-hour protest this week at what they saw as harassment by a particularly vocal member of the Islami Jamiat Tulaba who had lectured them against the taking of photographs in the Engineering Block on April 17. It is alleged that not only did he harangue the young women but he slapped and kicked one of them. This is apparently not the first time that this has happened and the man concerned has allegedly abused and beaten female students at least twice in the past. Matters quickly escalated, all departments of the university were closed by April 26 and 27 and student bus services were suspended. The reaction of the university administration is equivocal to say the least. They have issued a notice to expel the offending male student, but at the same time say they are considering action against the protesters for complaining about his behaviour in the first place. Reports indicate that the administration had been aware of the harassment of women by the alleged offender and had chosen to turn a blind eye – some sources allege that he was encouraged in his actions. Such is the grip that the IJT has over the university that the administration seems powerless. The vice-president confronted the protesting female students, is said to have taken their names and told them they would be punished. She said that the alleged offender had already been barred from the university – but if this was the case then why was he on university premises harassing women as appears to be his established habit? Why had the university not ejected him and allowed the women to continue their studies in peace? The women of the university are right to make their protest – which they did peacefully and reportedly without any violence or a single pane of glass being broken – and the university administration needs to grow itself a backbone and protect the rights of all students, not just those who represent powerful interest groups.

(via Pak Spectator)