By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: The Women’s Action Forum (Hyderabad) has strongly condemned a social media campaign targeting Shireen Jokio, widow of Nazim Jokio, over her second marriage.
The forum said that a society can only be considered healthy and dignified when men and women enjoy equal legal, human, and religious rights. It emphasised that a widow’s right to remarry is both legally and religiously valid, and criticism of her personal choice constitutes an attack on women’s dignity and autonomy.
The statement highlighted that marriage is a personal decision, and no individual or group has the right to interfere under the pretext of political or social norms. Launching character assassination campaigns online violates basic human rights and will not be tolerated.
The forum described the campaign as a form of social violence against women, aiming not just to tarnish one woman’s reputation but to undermine the freedom and dignity of women in society at large.
It called on the government, law enforcement, and socially responsible organisations to respect women’s legal and personal rights, take action against those spreading defamatory content on social media, and run awareness campaigns on the rights of widows and single women.
The Women’s Action Forum reaffirmed its commitment to defending women’s personal freedoms, stating that a woman’s right to marry is part of her dignity, liberty, and human rights.
