Pakistan: Abuser Serves Rabia Anum with Defamation for Reporting on Domestic Violence
Anum targeted for sharing story of wife of well-known TV Anchor
Location: Pakistan, Karachi
Date: February 1, 2024
The Coalition for Women in Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses deep concern over Pakistani anchor Rabia Anum facing a defamation legal notice for using her social media platform to raise awareness about domestic violence survivor Nomaika, who accused her husband, news anchor Ashfaque Ishaque Satti, of physical abuse. Anum's post, which included graphic images and a copy of the FIR, led to Satti's suspension but also to him targeting Anum with a defamation notice. Anum's actions were a responsible expression of her rights and highlighted the pervasive issue of domestic violence in Pakistan. The Karachi Police must actively pursue the case filed against him by Nomaika, his second wife, and not allow him to escape justice for domestic violence. We urge the authorities in Pakistan to immediately withdraw the notice served to Rabia Anum.
On February 1, news anchor Ashfaque Ishaque Satti served news anchor Rabia Anum with a defamation notice in response to her reporting on domestic violence. Anum, a prominent journalist with a substantial social media following, shared the plight of Satti’s wife, Nomaika, on Twitter on January 29. Nomaika accuses her husband of abuse.
When asked about her reaction to being served a legal notice for defamation, Anum tells Women Press Freedom that she wasn’t shocked. “When an abuser wants to divert people’s attention from their crime to something else, they always take such actions.”
She adds, sarcastically, that she thought it was “funny” how Satti, who is also a journalist, has “done the same thing his entire career that is reporting the crime, which is exactly what I’m doing.”
Given Anum's substantial social media following of approximately 1.6 million, her post gained significant traction, leading to widespread awareness and support Nomaika. This attention ultimately compelled the Karachi Police to take action, and Satti's employer, ARY News, suspended him due to their "zero tolerance policy" towards domestic violence. Anum also brought to light the fact that Satti had a history of domestic violence allegations, with his first wife having divorced him for the same reason and his third wife, also a news anchor, being subjected to his abuse. Additionally, Satti was involved in an extramarital affair.
Anum tells Women Press Freedom that Nomaika directly contacted her on her Instagram account and that she knew nothing about her being Satti’s wife.
“I had never spoken to her before. She shared her story and pictures with me, after which I started contacting people who knew the accused personally,” she says, highlighting that she was shocked to learn that almost everyone said they already knew the accused was capable of committing domestic violence.
Anum says she was shocked to see the victim’s pictures, terming them “horrific.”
“There are many pictures that we haven’t shared on social media because the victim is not comfortable doing so,” she tells Women Press Freedom. “After I received her messages, I immediately made sure that she got the right help from authorities and connected her to Jibran Nasir and his team,” she said. Nasir is a human rights lawyer who is also running for the upcoming general elections in Pakistan.
In March 2023, a report by Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights stated that approximately 63,000 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were recorded in Pakistan in the “last three years,” with at least 80% of the cases linked to domestic violence. The report also issued a cautionary note which stated that the data was estimated from reported cases and that the number may considerably be higher.
“This is not the first time I stood up for a domestic abuse victim. In our country, every time you stand up for them, you should be ready for a lot of criticism and people who try to stop you from speaking,” the journalist says, adding she has now learned how to shut them out and continue with her work.
“Every time you stand up for them (domestic violence survivors), you should be ready for a lot of criticism and people who try to stop you from speaking”
Anum's efforts to investigate the allegations against Satti revealed disturbing stories from those who knew him personally, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue. While there are strict domestic violence laws in Pakistan, there are still aspects of the law that require further scrutiny. Anum rightfully points out that in domestic violence cases, the accused should not be granted pre-arrest bail, as abusers have the potential to harm others, including themselves.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Rabia Anum for her unwavering support for the victim and for her courage in using her platform to raise awareness about the torture endured by Satti's wife. Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue in Pakistan, and those in positions of power often misuse their authority to perpetrate abuse. We applaud Rabia Anum for her dedication to standing up for domestic abuse victims and for her unwavering commitment to using her platform for the betterment of women in our society. Rabia Anum has demonstrated great courage and integrity by speaking out and amplifying the voice of a woman in need. She committed no crime in highlighting a grave issue, and her actions deserve admiration, not intimidation. We call upon the Pakistani authorities to uphold the principles of press freedom in Anum's case and protect her right to free speech and expression.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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