Twitter has spoken: #JusticeforRukhsana
In a dramatic trending incident which saw people tweet about #JusticeforRukhsana, the integrity of Pakistani Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy came under the limelight.
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy used Rukhsana in her Oscar Winning Documentary "Saving Face" in order to portray the acid violence against women due to cultural and structural inequalities towards women from Pakistani men. According to news reports from notable newspapers, Rukhsana has claimed that Chinoy had promised her 3 million rupees (Royalty payment), construction of a house on 150 Square Yards in Multan and plastic surgery prior to making the film; but as per Rukhsana, none of the promises have yet been fulfilled.
News reports have also indicated that Sharmeen Chinoy used her influence to silence Acid Survivors Association so that they refrain from supporting Rukhsana’s legal case against her. Rukhsana has also claimed that she thought that the movie would improve her living but it has rather aggravated her sufferings.
Many individuals have posted their comments with respect to the oppression against Rukhsana. Some have even inquired her about Rukhsana's claims to which she has stated that Rukhsana's family is basically trying to extort money and the allegations are false.
Sharmeen has put forward her clarifications. With respect to the royalty payment and the construction of the house, Sharmeen has stated that she never promised anything to the Acid victim Rukhsana as "Saving Face" is a documentary and not a commercial movie. She added that the construction of the house was merely an offer made by a donor after watching the documentary.
"A donor who saw the film offered to buy Rukhsana a house in early May- She went to see a few houses but her family pressured her not to accept," tweeted Sharmeen.
Talking about Rukhsana's  plastic surgery claim, Sharmeen added that Rukhsana refused the plastic surgery treatment, though the other victim in the documentary, Zakia, did receive the treatment from Dr. Jawad in April 2012.
If Rukhsana's claims have any validity, I think that justice should certainly prevail and Rukhsana should be presented with everything that rightfully belongs to her. But if the claims are derived out of greed, then it would certainly dent the morale of documentary film makers who create awareness by showing the negative side of the society.
Following are some notable tweets:
Syed Haider Karrar â€@HaiderKarrar
@SchimiHusseyn Sharmeen blocked me I think she can't face the truth that she used an acid victim woman t gain popularity#JusticeforRukhsana
Schumaila Husseyn â€@SchimiHusseyn
#JusticeforRukhsana @ShameOnSharmeen @sharmeenochinoy 's Oscar victory should be reconsidered. Justice is dearer than Oscar.
Awais Bilal â€@AwaisBilal
RT @FatimaAli52 RT @AnjumKiani: #justiceforRukhsana TRENDING NO1 in #Pakistan! Sharmeen Chinoy Exposed as the People Deliver their Justice!
PTI Nazariati â€@PTInazariati
#JusticeForRukhsana is now the top trend in Pakistan. What a great shame for Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and her flatterers in PTI-I.
Schumaila Husseyn â€@SchimiHusseyn
This is how urban elites exploit oppressed women’s miseries in Pakistan http://criticalppp.com/archives/8170 #JusticeForRukhsana#ShameOnSharmeen
So far @sharmeenochinoy states Rukhsana's family is basically trying to extort money and the allegations are false.#JusticeforRukhsana
Today, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is most hated name in Pakistan social media. She exploited an already oppressed woman.#JusticeForRukhsana
Exploitation of the poor RT “@rameeshaaa: And we thought we were proud of u Sharmeen! #JusticeforRukhsan #ShameonSharmeen#SharmeenChinoy
Why has Pakistan changed? What happened to our values n pride? The way Rukhsana is demanding money from Sharmeen Obaid is sad n shameful.
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