She was one of Pakistan’s most controversial figures, unabashedly challenging Pakistan’s conservative social norms through her provocative, sassy social media persona.
Qandeel Baloch, dubbed by some as the ‘Kim Kardashian of Pakistan,’ was killed yesterday, in an apparent ‘honor killing’ by her brother – silenced by the same patriarchal society she so famously fought against.
Baloch shot to fame in March, when she released a video promising to perform a “striptease” if the Pakistani cricket team won the World Twenty20 cricket championships. Later this year, she provoked outrage after a selfie she took with Mufti Qavi, a senior cleric, went viral on social media.
While she upset many in Pakistan’s Muslim-majority conservative society, others regarded her as a beacon for women’s rights in the region. Just three days prior to her murder, Qandeel wrote:
“As a women (sic) we must stand up for ourselves. As a women we must stand up for each other…As a women we must stand up for justice. I believe that I am a modern day feminist. I believe in equality. I need not to choose what type of women should be. I don’t think there is any need to label ourselves just for sake of society. I am just a women with free thoughts free mindset and I LOVE THE WAY I AM. :)”
Following her death, #QandeelBaloch began trending on Twitter, the reactions clearly reflecting her polarizing effect both in life and death.
Most took to media to condemn her murder, expressing their respect for her and the way she lived her life.
She didn't conform to the norm, outspoken& unapologetic, silenced 4 ever. Shocked & saddened at #QandeelBaloch's murder
— Sharmila faruqi (@sharmilafaruqi) July 16, 2016
#DiscourseMatters: There is no "honor" in killings.. we need to stop calling them honor killings #QandeelBaloch
— Maryam Alkhawaja (@MARYAMALKHAWAJA) July 17, 2016
"#QandeelBaloch was not killed for “honor.” She was killed because an inordinately fragile, male ego couldn’t handle her flame."
— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) July 16, 2016
"Masculinity so fragile, a woman only needs to breathe to hurt it."
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) July 17, 2016
Powerful graphic for slain #QandeelBaloch pic.twitter.com/knzXW84GNI
However, Twitter was also ripe with comments embracing news of her murder and praising her brothers actions.
A girl who decides to publish her naked pics for sake of publicity...what her brother is sppose to do???(1/2) #QandeelBaloch
— M H T ︻┳テ=一 (@HanzalaOfficial) July 16, 2016
Mixed reactions aside, what Baloch’s death did evoke was fierce discussion over women’s rights and the fight for equality in the Muslim world. She lived her life challenging the status quo and questioning Pakistan’s largely male-dominated society and in her death, these issues only gained further prominence in Pakistan and across the world.
AM
