A Pakistani woman was harassed by a mob because her clothing featured Arabic calligraphy.
The incident happened on February 25, 2024, in Lahore’s Ichhra Market.
Disturbing videos of the episode swiftly spread online. They showed a mob confronting her while she was dining at a nearby restaurant with her husband.
The attack was incited by claims that the woman’s outfit displayed Quranic verses.
This sparked protests and threats from onlookers who misunderstood the actual content of the inscription.
It escalated into a frenzy, leaving the woman frightened and without any means of defence.
In the video, a man can be heard threatening: “I will shoot her.”
People kept telling her: “Take it off!”
Upon receiving alerts, authorities intervened, deploying the police to scatter the extremist crowd and guarantee the woman’s safety.
ASP Sheherbano arrived at the scene, covered up the woman and took her with her.
She has been praised for her bravery and efficiency. She handled such a critical situation in a mob of angry men.
The Pakistani woman later said:
“I did not intend to offend anyone. I did not even know that something like this could happen by wearing this dress.
“I will still apologise and will never wear anything like this again.”
Ignorant people who do not know anything about religion are proving their 'Iman' by accusing a girl of blasphemy for wearing a dress with Arabic calligraphy.
Now it has become difficult for common man to live in Pakistan.
pic.twitter.com/eSudx6ipFi— Farhan Ramdani (@farhanramdani04) February 26, 2024
Viewers have spoken against this incident.
One person said: “It is ridiculous how they made the lady apologise.
“I mean if anything, that mob and the people who made threats to her and terrorised her should be arrested.”
Another asked: “Why are they making the girl apologise for a crime she didn’t even make?”
Following investigations, it was revealed that the Arabic calligraphy on the dress read ‘Halwa’.
One user said: “Even if you say a bad word in Arabic, Pakistanis will praise it because they don’t even understand that Arabic is a whole language that exists outside of the Quran.”
Another commented:
“Grow up! Arabic people themselves wear such prints on their abayas.”
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation on social media, with users expressing their anger over the injustice.
One said: “That woman is traumatised for like.”
Another commented: “The mob can just threaten to kill anyone after calling anything and everything blasphemous? There should be laws against this.”
In the wake of this incident, the community is wrestling with its aftermath.
Voices are emerging to promote awareness regarding the significance of cultural understanding and tolerance.
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