KARACHI: They came with doctors, historians, lawyers and human rights activists. They came aggrieved, but they also came determined to prove their point with evidence from medical science, history and justice.

A press conference called by the transgender community at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday — a day after the verdict of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) that ruled the some of the provisions of the transgender law were against Islamic injunctions — saw members of this oppressed group open up their hearts to the media.

No one heard their side before passing the judgement. As young Shahzadi Rai and the senior Bindiya Rana of the Gender Interactive Alliance pointed out.

“Me as well as Bindiya Ji had also recorded our statements regarding this issue about the Transgender Persons Act of 2018 but when the decision of the Shariat Court came, our valid points were simply removed,” said Shahzadi.

She also urged people not to connect the decision of the FSC with the teachings of Islam. “Islam gives respect to all living beings. Islam is all about uplifting human rights. This decision is not about Islamic ideology,” she said.

“Islam is not heartless. Islam supports us,” said Bindiya Rana. “I am Muslim. When I was performing Umrah, no one during tawaf of the Khana-i-Kaaba told me to go join another line. There is no discrimination in the House of God,” Bindiya cried.

FSC decision is not about Islamic ideology, says transgender representatives

“We beg at signals, we dance at gatherings to make two ends meet. It is all very much acceptable by the people. But now that a handful of us, and just a handful mind you, have become educated and want respectable jobs, they are worried. They only want to see us begging and dancing, not earning a decent living,” Bindiya added.

“What is this? Who needs five medical boards to tell us what we are? We know who we are,” Bindiya said.

Surkh Hina provided some history about the transgender community. “Hijras or transgenders have been mentioned in Islamic history, too. Before that, we have been a part of 4,500 years old Hindu scriptures as well. We have been a part of darbars in India, we have been part of colonial India, we have been a part of Sufi darbars and dargahs also. In fact, Baba Buleh Shah was buried by transgenders,” said Surkh Hina.

“It’s just that when a country goes through an economic crisis like Pakistan is at the moment, the government starts targeting poor minorities to divert attention of the public. We are already victims due to transphobia and now we have the mullahs and people such as designer Maria B, too, adding fuel to the fire,” Surkh Hina added.

Dr Mehrub Moiz Awan, who said that she is the only Fulbright Pakistani transgender scholar, said that the court’s decision was more of a joke. “They have simply copied and pasted passages from literature produced by the global gender-phobic neoconservative far right,” she said.

“They call us sick in the head. So do they want us to wear the pink badges of shame of the Nazi Germany era when transgenders were given electric shocks to cure them? Is this Islam, science or just plain gossip,” Dr Awan asked.

Lawyer Sara Malkani, meanwhile, explained the Transgender Persons Act of 2018 is still very much effective, at least for 60 days after the passing of the FSC’s judgement. She also said that they will definitely go into appeal while explaining some of their points and grounds for appealing.

Ms Moniza (Monz) of the Aurat March, Abira Ashfaq of the Women Democratic Front and Kaleem Durrani of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also spoke.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2023