- Amna Ilyas dispelled myths about the slogan “Mera Jism Meri Marzi.”
- Ilyas joined the chorus of feminists who have supported the phrase.
- She said that It’s about having body autonomy rights and consent.
Amna Ilyas, an actor, was a guest on “The Talk Talk Show” where she discussed being a feminist and dispelled myths about the slogan “Mera Jism Meri Marzi” from the Aurat March. When the placard was held up at the 2018 Aurat March, it sparked uproar since many right-wing critics said that the slogan encourages promiscuity and undermines Pakistani family values. Several religious leaders had cited the poster as evidence for their claims that the Aurat March was anti-Islamic and that it was advancing a Western agenda in Pakistan.
Ilyas joined the chorus of feminist activists who have supported the phrase “Mera Jism Meri Marzi” in defence of women’s right to bodily autonomy, explaining that it was about more than just clothing and defended women’s rights: “It’s about having body autonomy rights and consent. It’s about harassment, domestic violence, and concepts like, ‘No one has the right to touch me without my consent, even if I’m married to you’.”
Ilyas continued by dispelling the myth that women who support feminism are advocating vulgarity while, in truth, the concept backs women’s rights to equal chances with men:
“When we speak of equal rights, it’s about having the same opportunities to thrive in my career as the man beside me. If you’re a father of four children who excel in your profession, why can’t I do the same? Honestly, it’s not about whether you’re getting permission to wear jeans or not. What we truly need, is the space to work in a cerebral capacity,” she stated.
On the work front, she has been a part of various hit projects including Zinda Bhaag, Good Morning Karachi, Saat Din Mohabbat In, Baaji, and Ready Steady No.
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