Support Kerala Advocate Anima Muyarath in Her Battle Against Sexism and Gender Discrimination in the Calicut Bar Association
AISA and AIPWA condemn the Calicut Bar Association’s decision to suspend Adv. Anima Muyarath for her Facebook post on 25th October 2013 regarding sexist comments from the fellow male lawyers in the Bar as well as at the office. She was suspended by the Association for a month since 30th December 2013 on grounds of ‘severe misconduct.’ At the General Body Meeting on 10th January 2014 which ratified the decision, Anima and another woman lawyer who supported her were attacked physically and verbally by male members. One of them threw a chair at the women, injuring one woman lawyer. Anima was threatened with remarks like “you have just seen the eve teasing part and we are capable of doing much more”.
On 25th October 2013, Anima updated her facebook status with a comment. The English translation of her Malayalam comment “It is now five months since I started practising at the Calicut Bar. I do not know if all work spaces in the world are like this. But I have met many silly (male) colleagues my age at the Bar and in office who address women as ‘Sugar candy’ , ‘Dear’ and follow them around with comments such as ‘You are so beautiful’ — just like Prem Nazeer did in old Malayalam films. It seems to me these men don’t even watch new films. This is the same old attitude — making women either ‘sisters’ or lovers by ‘caring’ for them or ‘keeping’ them. My sympathies to all these silly persons I have met in the last five months.” Interestingly , there are some elders who make proposals on seeing a woman. Are these people brokers or uncles?”
In Kerala, at a famous college in Thiruvananthapuram, students are agitating to demand an anti-sexual harassment committee according to Vishakha guidelines, after an allegation of sexual harassment against a faculty member was ignored. Earlier, we have seen the report submitted by the Deputy Director of Education, Govt. of Kerala justifying the anti-women speech made by an IAS officer and terming the protest against the speech by BA student Arya Suresh as ‘an act of immaturity’.
Sexist culture is deeply entrenched – but strong voices are fighting back. Colleges and universities, Bar associations and courts, media houses and other workplaces – women are raising their voices against sexism and sexual harassment. We call upon all students to support Anima Muyarath in her battle against sexist work culture in the Calicut Bar Association.
This is a real sexist remark from the woman. Just imagine what would have happened if the reverse had happened. Such trouble mongers should be thrown out.