Shaniera Akram responds to Lahore university expelling students
The University of Lahore expelled on Friday two students after a video showing a young woman proposing to a young man went viral.
“They are barred from entering the premises of the University of Lahore and all its sub-campuses,” it said in a statement. The two were holding flowers and embraced each other after the young man accepted the proposal.
The video instantly topped Twitter trends and social media streamed with debates as to whether expelling the students was the right decision or not. Celebrities came out in support of the students and criticised the varsity’s administration.
Singer Shehzad Roy argued that no one takes notice of women being beaten on the streets, but a couple embracing each other becomes a crime.
Larki ko sar-e-aam dantnay marnay par koee mutawaja nahi hota, par pyaar say galay langana buhat bada jurm hai. pic.twitter.com/GduBytbNnO
— Shehzad Roy (@ShehzadRoy) March 13, 2021
Yasir Hussain sarcastically presented Amitabh Bachchan as the UoL’s principal.
What kind of example are we setting here,” Shaniera Akram asked.
We just celebrated International women’s day and here we are with a top University expelling a young woman for having the confidence and empowerment to ask a man to marry her amongst the security of her peers. What kind of example are we setting here ? #CantExpelLove
— Shaniera Akram (@iamShaniera) March 13, 2021
Mira Sethi called the expulsion “a toxic, violent mess”.
Two Lahori students expelled because of a public marriage proposal and subsequent display of affection.
What a violent, toxic mess this is.
A State that surveils, censors and bans all things natural and joyous, not realising THIS is how you brutalize a society https://t.co/fLPclp2RB4
— Mira Sethi (@sethimirajee) March 12, 2021
“Where is the love, Lahore?” remarked Ushna Shah.
Where many people agreed with the celebrities, others criticised them for calling for normalising such acts at educational institutes.