Around 60 women donning Abayas and covering their faces embarked on the Boulevard road in Srinagar protesting against the recently held fashion show in a hotel on the same road stretch.
The women who were holding placards held a silent protest against what they termed an un-islamic act. The placards had messages like “We are proud of our Hijab,” We love the Hijab of Hazrat Fatima Zahra”
The protesters expressed their anger against the organisers of fashion shows and urged them to refrain from sponsoring such ‘shameful’ events in Kashmir. The protest started from Shrine in Gupkar and culminated at SKICC.
Talking to The Kashmir Walla one participant Tahira Manzoor said that the protest was not carried out by any organisation but by like minded women who want an end to the growing immorality in the valley.
She further said that a cop engaged with them and asked them questions, “He asked why were we taking out a protest and “what if I don’t want to observe Hijab?”
“Another cop told us that women have reached to the moon and you guys are searching Hijab, to which we replied by saying that we are protesting against the immoral events taking place in Kashmir,” Tahira said. Adding, “We told the cop that we are not forcing Hijab on to everything, but awaring our women about the importance of Hijab,”
Tahira said that the protest was a silent one and involved no sloganeering, “We held this protest against the event as they can force our young women to flesh trade,” she said. Further adding that same happened in Spain a once Muslim majority nation, “The state spread immorality and flesh trade in the country and then slaughtered Muslims there.”
She said that this protest is against the security of the Hijab, “If we don’t raise our voices against this today, tomorrow they might do something more obscene,” Tahira said.
She alleged that the women were bundled into vehicles and taken to a police station, “Two vehicles were taken to a police station, however, they were later allowed to go.”
Earlier this month Kashmir Fashion Show’ was organised at the Sheri Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
“Fashion is not every time bad. It’s all about clothes and a presentation of it,” a contemporary style designer, Ousheeba was quoted as saying news gathering agency ANI.
However, the event had raised eyebrows and received criticism for being held in Muslim majority Kashmir, while others had questioned the timing as the valley is witnessing another wave of the deadly Covid 19.
