Kochi: Kerala women's panel chairperson MA Josephine on Saturday called on Hanan Hamid, a college girl from Kochi, who has been at the centre of a row over both after she was seen selling fish in viral images and a defamatory online campaign against her subsequently. Josephine said attack on women is not a novel issue and misogynists have found novel ways to carry out such crimes making use of technological advances. Meanwhile, Hanan welcomed action against her cyberbullies and noted she is satisfied with the support offered to her.
“Yes, I am aware of the ongoing police investigation. I know that someone has already been taken to custody. I am satisfied with the actions,” she said, addressing the media.
Independent probe on
Josephine also announced that Kerala Women's Commission is proceeding with an independent probe and legal actions despite the police probe. "The KWC has the right to conduct independent probe into issues affecting women. Utilising it, we are forming a committee to investigate into the cyber defamation faced by Hanan. We will ask the suspects to present themselves before our panel and examine the evidences. We don't have to wait for someone else to file a complaint. We are taking up the issue all by ourselves,” Josephine said.
Speaking to the media at Madavana, Kochi, Josephine said women have been silent for centuries and society had taken her for granted that way. In the changing times, loud female voices are rising in this society. There is a tendency to suppress such bold voices, which needs to be resisted, she said.
Words, not deeds, provoked panel
The outrageous comments against Hanan rather than any action or threat of action by the netizens forced the panel to take action.
Verbal abuse on a women is totally a different crime from physical and mental abuse. Words denote attitudes and concepts. KWC was shocked to see the kind of words cyberbullies used against young Hanan, Josephine said.
After the photograph of Hanan selling fish in her college uniform went viral on social media, a section of netizens staged a cyber-attack on her, alleging that she was staging a publicity stunt for an upcoming movie which she is set to be part of shortly. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state women's panel and several other political leaders had come up offering support to Hanan.
Noorudeen Sheikh, a Wayanad-based vlogger who kick-started the hate campaign against Hanan, was taken into police custody on Friday morning.
