Jami Mehmood, “My Life Is In Literal Hell. I Am Still In Hiding.”

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Jami Mehmood, #MeToo Jami, filmmaker Jami
Source: Hip in Pakistan

It has been a long, dark week for liberal voices in Pakistan. Ironically, the reason for this grimness roots not from an external source trying to curb freedom of speech but sprouts from the liberal media’s silence following a series of tweets by filmmaker Jami Mehmood in which he revealed being raped at the hands of a media giant some 13 years ago.

This deafening silence on the part of the country’s most “fearless” voices is unprecedented. It also reflects the uneasy reality that when it comes to protecting one’s own, even the flag bearers of human rights and free speech would not think twice before abandoning their own values.

“When they (the people at large) started targeting the #MeToo movement following the lecturer’s suicide, I got very emotional. They were going to destroy the entire movement overnight and I knew, I had to share my story to save it (the #MeToo Movement).”

And while we, as common citizens can only lament, Jami Mehmood finds himself in a perilous situation he certainly did not bargain for.

Read: From Zarrar Khuhro To Osman Khalid Butt, Woke Twitterati Who Are Silent On Jami Mahmood’s #MeToo Story

Stepping forward to speak-up about his ordeal was a decision that took Jami more than a decade to take. However, once he did finally speak, Jami found himself almost entirely alone.

“No one came forward from the industry, film or journalism. Few did message privately but no one has taken a stand from the front,” shared a disappointed Jami. He did however mention Mehreen Jabbar and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s names in particular while citing friends who reached out to him publicly.

In response to a question about how his life had changed in the few days since he came forward with his #MeToo story, Jami’s answer painted a bleak picture.

“I went alone in the middle of the night (after the news broke) as all day we (Jami and his family) were attacked by a few #MeToo female activists for derailing the movement by not saying the culprit’s name. The lecturer’s suicide was also somehow being blamed on us! I was being treated as the head of a lynch mob who was on an unnecessary witch hunt for revenge. So, it was a bit too much for us. I had to leave the house and stop the madness as it was hurting everyone around me in so many ways and all at once.”

After almost five days having passed since he spoke, things seem to have only worsened for Jami.

“My life is completely in literal hell. I’m still hiding as I’m not sure what the person – who I know is a monster mentally and a don in his own right – would do to hurt me or my family. So, I had to leave the house and even then, no one took a stand with me. All my buddies suddenly vanished.”

He continues, “My daughter kept crying for me for two days; that broke my heart. Friends told her what had happened and it was as if she had lost her hero. She felt so broken. But I think, she’s getting better now.”

In the face of such scathing adversity, the voices of support are serving as the only silver lining for the ace filmmaker.

“Ever since I spoke, there have been so many attacks on my character; people on social media questioning how a strong, 34-year-old man could be raped! On the other hand thousands of strangers from all over the world have reached out to me, guiding me, advising me on how to follow the game and not lose focus. This support makes me feel that the hell I’m going through is all worth it.”

Given the radio silence on the part of most mainstream media outlets, it is not very hard to deduce the power and influence enjoyed by the media moghul Jami talks about as the culprit in his tweets. We then, naturally wanted to understand if Jami has received any direct or indirect threat from his rapist.

“No direct pressure but I could feel the crunch when stories went down and were made live again only after they had been re-edited. That’s when I truly realized how big this news had become. I’ve been on the run ever since so neither he (the culprit) or his opponents could reach me. I don’t want my story to be exploited for any other cause or angle.”

Now that he has spoken, there is no looking back for Jami Mehmood.

“Support is pouring from around the world. Intense support. I don’t know how to give-up; I can’t give up. This man should be taken down as he will hurt someone else.”

Jami, much like the handful of journalists who do want to speak-up against the media moghul are restricted by Pakistan’s defamation laws that prohibit any individual or entity from “defaming” another person or entity in the absence of irrefutable evidence.

Read: Meesha Shafi Breaks Her Silence On Jami Mehmood’s Rape Ordeal

In this specific case, “irrefutable evidence” would either amount to DNA or witnesses – neither of which are available. However, if more individuals from within the media establishment to whom the culprit belongs come forward or if other survivors who might have been sexually violated by the same assaulter muster the courage to step forward, it is only then that a case can be built against the powerful rapist.