Salma Noreen is a Pakistani politician and activist who has made significant contributions to women’s rights and democracy in Pakistan. She first rose to prominence in the 1980s as a student activist, and later helped found the Women’s Action Forum, a pioneering organization that fought against Pakistan’s discriminatory laws against women. Over the past four decades, Noreen has faced persecution and jail time for her beliefs, but remains committed to advocating for a more just and equitable Pakistan. This article will provide an overview of Noreen’s background, her achievements, challenges, and lasting impact.
Early Life and Education
Salma Noreen was born in Lahore, Pakistan in 1959. She came from a politically active family – her father was a trade unionist and her mother was involved in the women’s movement. From a young age, Noreen was exposed to ideas about human rights and women’s equality. She attended the prestigious Kinnaird College for Women in Lahore, where she studied literature and first became politically active in the late 1970s, organizing rallies and study groups focused on human rights issues. During her college years, Noreen demonstrated tremendous courage, speaking out against military rule in Pakistan despite intense government repression of student activism.
Founding the Women’s Action Forum
In 1981, Pakistan’s military ruler General Zia ul-Haq began imposing a rigid program of Islamization that severely limited women’s rights. That same year, Noreen helped found the Women’s Action Forum (WAF), a groundbreaking group that mounted legal challenges and mass protests against Zia’s discriminatory laws. The WAF brought together many of Pakistan’s leading feminists, human rights activists, artists and journalists. With Noreen as a key leader, the group demonstrated against the Hudood Ordinances, which denied women legal protections in rape cases, as well as other laws restricting women’s participation in politics and athletics. Defying tear gas and baton charges by police, Noreen inspired thousands to join the WAF in demanding full civil rights for women.
Political Activism and Persecution
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Noreen continued to speak out forcefully for women’s empowerment in Pakistan. She helped lead feminist conferences in Lahore in 1986 and 1990 that expanded the network of women activists across Pakistan. In 1986, she received the Human Rights Award from Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission. However, these activities made Noreen a target of harassment and false charges by the government. In 1983 she was jailed for three months on manufactured charges of sedition. Police routinely raided her home and office, confiscating materials and arresting colleagues. Despite these attempts to silence her, Noreen refused to abandon her activism.
In the late 1980s, Noreen joined the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, which worked to end military rule in Pakistan and establish democratic governance. In recognition of her courage, she was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Award in 1991. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Noreen continued to advocate for women’s empowerment in Pakistan through conferences, publications and court challenges. She condemned the military coup against the government in 1999, and was jailed for several months as a result.
Achievements
Salma Noreen’s activism over more than four decades has produced landmark achievements for women’s rights and democracy in Pakistan. Some highlights include:
- Helped repeal the Hudood Ordinances’ discriminatory provisions through the Protection of Women Act in 2006.
- Established over 75 chapters of the Women’s Action Forum across Pakistan to spread awareness of women’s rights among grassroots communities.
- Successfully challenged the ban on student unions enacted by Zia in the Supreme Court in 1989.
- Organized the first national conference on women’s rights in Pakistan in 1986.
- Established Women’s Studies centers at Punjab and Peshawar Universities in the 1990s.
- Authored influential publications on women’s rights, including “Symbols and Garbs” (2003) and “We Sinful Women” (1991).
In recognition of these accomplishments, Noreen has received prestigious awards including the United Nations Human Rights Award (1991) and the Parveen Rehman Human Rights Award (2021).
Recent Activities
In recent years, Noreen has continued to be deeply engaged in activism for women’s empowerment and democratization in Pakistan. Some of her major activities include:
- Served as founding member of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus in 2018 to increase women’s political participation.
- Advocated for eliminating child marriage and ensuring girls’ access to education.
- Protested the lack of transparency in Pakistan’s 2018 general elections.
- Criticized increased restrictions on civil society groups and media freedom in Pakistan.
- Joined the Aurat March women’s rights rallies in 2018 and 2019.
- Authored opinion articles for Pakistani newspapers on issues like sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
Despite being in her 60s, Noreen maintains a busy schedule of organizing conferences, court cases, and protests to advance women’s equality in Pakistan. She continues to speak out forcefully as the chairperson of the Women’s Action Forum in Lahore.
Challenges
In her activism over four decades, Salma Noreen has faced severe challenges including:
- Government persecution – She has been repeatedly jailed and placed under house arrest for her views. Police have raided her home and office to intimidate her into silence.
- Smear campaigns & threats – Islamist groups have accused her of spreading obscenity and insulting Islam. She has faced threats of violence from extremists.
- Banning of organizations – Progressive groups she has been part of like the WAF have been banned by successive governments.
- Intimidation of members – Colleagues associated with Noreen have also faced arrest, torture and enforced disappearances.
- Crackdowns on activism – The civic space for feminist activism in Pakistan has shrunk with restrictions imposed on NGOs.
Despite these challenges, Noreen has remained remarkably courageous in continuing her activism for decades. She stands out for her principled commitment to women’s empowerment, democracy, and human rights in Pakistan.
Impact and Legacy
Salma Noreen leaves a powerful legacy as one of Pakistan’s most fearless and influential activists for women’s rights and democracy. Some key impacts of her activism include:
- Inspired thousands of women to join Pakistan’s feminist movement through groups like the WAF.
- Successfully organized mass protests for women’s rights, overcoming fear and state repression.
- Helped repeal discriminatory laws against women like the Hudood Ordinances.
- Established pioneering women’s studies centers at Pakistani universities.
- Enhanced women’s political participation through organizations like the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus.
- Published groundbreaking books and articles highlighting women’s perspectives.
- Showed tremendous bravery in confronting military regimes and religious fundamentalism.
Thanks to Noreen’s efforts, women in Pakistan today have greater legal protections, political influence, and freedom than in decades past. She has inspired generations of women activists who continue fighting for gender equality in Pakistan. Although significant challenges remain, Noreen’s legacy will continue propelling Pakistan’s women’s movement into the future.
Conclusion
Salma Noreen’s four decades of struggle provide an inspiring model of principled activism. Since leading the formation of the WAF in 1981, she has braved arrests, threats and repression to advance women’s rights in Pakistan. Her leadership has helped empower thousands to join Pakistan’s feminist movement, confront unjust laws and policies, and widen the civic space for progressive activism.
Despite significant obstacles, Noreen remains outspoken in defending human rights. She continues to mentor young activists, organize rallies and advocate for women’s equality. Now in her 60s, her passion for building a just and democratic Pakistan remains undiminished. Salma Noreen’s unwavering courage and conviction make her a living legend of Pakistan’s ongoing struggle for women’s empowerment and human dignity. She provides hope that activism and people’s movements will one day succeed in bringing genuine democracy and equality to Pakistan.