Pakistan bans Women’s Day march
Authorities in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore have refused permission for a rally to mark International Women's Day, which regularly meets a fierce backlash in the conservative, patriarchal country.
Lahore city authorities cited the "controversial cards and banners" commonly displayed by participants in the march and security concerns as reasons behind the decision, which were laid out in a notification to march organisers late Friday.
Counter-protests dubbed "Haya (modesty)" marches are commonly staged by religious groups to call for the preservation of Islamic values.
"It's a violation of our rights. This raises questions about the state's ability to manage the right to freedom of assembly for both groups," Hiba Akbar, an organiser for Aurat (women's) March Lahore, told AFP.
Lahore authorities have allowed this year's Haya March to be held despite the ban on the Aurat March.
Organisers and participants of the Aurat March have been accused of promoting Western, liberal values and disrespecting religious and cultural sensitivities.
In 2020, groups of hardline Islamist men hurled stones at women participating in the Aurat March.
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