Yes, Sarah, I think connections between belief and evil acts need to be analyzed. Sexuality does seem to be one of the major issues in this case, the fact the picture has become so controversial in certain circles is definite evidence of this. To me, the image just seems like another Bollywood influence in a normal teenager’s life,but to her very religious family, pictures like this must have meant they felt shamed and humiliated, disrespected by what they would consider the girl’s rebelliousness against what they believed. This disrespectful nature towards her family and their beliefs is alleged to have been a factor in her murder. I imagine more facts regarding these matters will come out as the legal system works its way through this case. Analyze the connections, sounds like
a good idea to me.

And while I agree with you that showing pictures of Aqsa is a way to remind us of her life, showing this picture isn’t. Why couldn’t they have used a school picture of her smiling, or a picture of her smiling with her family, like every other murder victim is portrayed? You don’t see pictures of Natalie Holloway doing a sexy Facebook pose, you see her smiling, graduating, and in family pictures.

while forsoothsayer does need to understand the issues of gender inequality in the cultural context into which islam was born, i think it’s valid to point out that most muslims themselves don’t understand that, and therefore the common understanding of islam remains bound to a very specific time and place that did view women as less than men. therefore it can easily perpetuate misogyny, and people will continue to use islam to justify their mistreatment of women. to deny any connection between islam (as it’s popularly understood) and misogynistic practice/thought is like denying it’s connection to terrorism while so many muslims today are committing acts of terrorism. of course mysogyny and terrorism exist within other contexts as well, but to bring that up as a defense doesn’t do anything to address why on earth muslims are finding any sort of justification in islam for their immoral actions. i’m not impugning islam, simply saying that we need to analyze the connections b/c only that way can we root out the ignorance. denying the connection doesn’t do anyone any favors.

@Kim: I can also tell a lot about you for exaggerating Sobia et al’s reactions to this image. Just because we are criticizing it, doesn’t mean we are opposed to a young women living life as she chooses. We are criticizing the CONTEXT, the way it was used. On the surface, yes, it simply shows a vibrant young girl…and you can stop ur analysis there if you don’t care to take the whole context into consideration at all. But, um, context is kind of important, and that’s what I think Sobia et al are referring to when they say this image is disrespectful within this particular context – a context in which the girl herself is dead, she was killed for having cultural conflicts with her parents, and those conflicts had something to do with differing views on sexuality. I don’t mean to speak for others, but this is what I think and what I think others are expressing.

Re: Child pornography
Child pornography victim pictures are not printed because it is against the law to print child pornography.

Yes, some ( a distinct minority) of the
South Asian community might see these pictures as disrespectful,
but they have to tolerate the other communities in Canada that
don’t see these pictures as disrespectful and in fact feel such
images are normal. That’s also an aspect of multiculturalism.

“Not using this picture would not have infringed upon anyone’s human rights,” well, not printing the story would not have infringed upon anyone’s rights, and I’m sure that’s what her family would
have wanted. No stories, just forget about it, she’s dead in an unmarked grave. All very respectful.

Well, that’s not how it works here. Murder and press investigation of murder is not censored nor swept under the carpet. We want to know about such murders so we can prevent
the same types of crime from happening again. Toronto Life
provides a perspective, and if people don’t want to read the story,
or want to boycott the magazine, they are free to do so. Likewise,
I am free to encourage people to read and try and understand
all perspectives, without censorship or worrying about hurt feelings.

“To say that I’m making an assumption that the Pakistani community would be in agreement with what her father and brother are
ALLEGED to have done, because I say that the Press does not
have to consider her family’s sensibilities when they procure
a Facebook photo for their magazine is totally absurd. ”

Why should the press not respect her family? Why does the press then not print pictures of murder victims? Why did the press not print pictures of the 8 snowmobilers bodies who died in BC recently? Why did the press not print pictures of child pornography victims? All these are done out of respect. And you may say that those pictures are not the same as Aqsa’s, but Aqsa’s culture is also not the same as the others. Within the South Asian community such pictures are disrespectful regardless of what you may think of the issue.

Canada is officially a multicultural country. This means that the various cultures that exist within the country have to be respected, as long as the cultural practices are not infringing upon anyone’s human rights. And not using this particular picture would not have infringed upon anyone’s human right.

Then, I’m accused of saying it’s ok to disrespect the dead. The
fact is, someone somewhere is going to feel disrespected no
matter what, the Press can’t consider everyone’s feelings before
deciding what to print. It’s just not viable and it contradicts the idea of a free press. In some countries, of course, they would not print
such a photo because they very well could be arrested (e. g.
Saudi Arabia). Arrested because people would say it disrespects a religion. Thank God that in Canada murder is treated much more
seriously than alleged apostasy.

Ms. Parvez herself took these photos and put them on Facebook.
I see an image of a vibrant, alive young girl with energy and
a healthy rebellious nature. Maybe that’s what a lot of people
are objecting to, and like I say, you can tell a lot about someone’s
values by the way the person reacts to images.

Anyway, you have your opinions on the matter, I have mine,
and if we can have a healthy debate on the differences, like
in this blog, that is commendable and a credit to you.

“some of them been charged with her murder?”

The key word here is SOME. Not all. To disrespect the rest of her family because of the actions of a few is making the insulting assumption that her whole family, and her community (us Pakistanis) would be in agreement with what her father and brother did.

“the key here is “IF SHE WERE ALIVE.””

Are you saying its ok to disrespect the dead? Dead or alive she should be respected.

I think the viewer’s interpretation of the picture tells more about the viewer than about the magazine’s decision to print it.

Meaning what, exactly?

I think Sobia’s critique is valid. Just because some of her family is allegedly responsible doesn’t mean all of them are or that they have no feelings or love for her. It’s callous to think that they don’t feel anything when they see her picture on a newsstand.

Sobia says that her family’s sensibilities should have been considered. I’m sorry, but haven’t some of them been charged with her murder?

And as for “if she were alive would she be comfortable with her picture being used” the key here is “IF SHE WERE ALIVE.”

IF SHE WERE ALIVE we wouldn’t be looking at her picture on the
front of the stupid magazine.