- Kanwal Aftab tells a follower that women should support and motivate their abusive husbands, a comment that triggered strong backlash
- Lawyer Muneeb Qadir says domestic violence is not a private matter
- Kanwal uploads another story with the reply that she wants women to support their husbands in fixing them
Kanwal Aftab’s insensitive comments regarding domestic violence and how “women” can stop it have sparked outrage across all social media platforms.
The famous TikToker and Instagram influencer had a short QnA session with her followers on Instagram from where the ill-thought-out comment came.
A follower asked whether it was alright for a woman to file for divorce from a physically abusive and jobless husband. Kanwal replied that divorce wasn’t a solution. She added that “[the woman should] try to support him motivate him” (sic).
Outrage on Social Media
This didn’t sit well with other media personalities and human rights activists. Lawyer Muneeb Qadir reminded people that “Domestic Violence is NOT a private matter & abusive husbands mustn’t expect to be ‘supported’ by their wives.”
“Kanwal Aftab may have millions of social media followers but there is a responsibility on us to speak responsibly, to CONDEMN domestic violence unequivocally.”
One Twitter user added, “This is Kanwal Aftab (Instagram influencer/tiktoker) 2.8 million followers and this is her advice to a woman who’s telling her about DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. What is wrong with our influencers. These people will influence our society? Motivate him for what?” (sic)
Another follower asked Kanwal Aftab how she could ask a woman to support her abusive husband. To which she replied that [women] should “support” their husbands in fixing them.
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People on Instagram were equally appalled by Aftab’s views. The account ‘sarcaxxm’ posted: “So according to Kanwal Aftab, a husband committing domestic violence needs to be supported Please don’t seek these unqualified inFlUenCers for serious advice.”
The media personality did not post anything else on Instagram related to her replies and kept replying to the casual questions asked by her followers.
Kanwal Aftab enjoys a following of 18.4 million on TikTok and 2.8 million on Instagram. She’s a famous influencer whose followers are mostly young women.
She is married to TikTok star Zulqarnain Sikandar. The celebrity couple recently became parents to a baby girl.
Domestic Violence: An Epidemic in Pakistan
Pakistan experiences an epidemic of violence against women. The National Commission for Human Rights (NHCR) in February this year revealed that “40 percent women in Pakistan experienced physical or emotional violence.”
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The TikTok star’s insensitive reply and the implications that the onus lies on women to correct their husband’s behaviour make the matters even worse for women.
At least two Pakistani actors have been involved in domestic violence cases filed by their former spouses. Earlier, a YouTuber faced criticism when he made a funny reel around domestic violence.
Netizens are now quick at calling out anyone who either make fun of the important matter or put the blame on victims.
Stay tuned to WOW360.