Fasih Ahmed, the editor of Newsweek Pakistan is facing opposition after he tweeted about child abuse claiming that it always existed which we cannot eliminate.
What stirred social media campaign against Fasih Ahmed was his remarks that ‘child abuse sometimes leads to great art’. Many people opposed his remarks but he defended his tweet.
Fasih Ahmed was also a board member of Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) which is an annual literatural festival in which renowned national & international celebrities participate. People started a petition demanding to remove Fasih Ahmed from the board while others are calling for a boycott until LLF speaks against Fasih Ahmed.
This resulted in resignation of Fasih Ahmed, LLF in their official facebook page revealed that Fasih has recused himself from the board and his resignation has been accepted.
It doesn’t matter who owns #LLF . The #LLF will have no credibility or respect quite honestly if they try to continue as if nothing has happened. #FireFasih #BoycottLLF
— sameen mohsin (@sameenmohsin) January 24, 2018
While most of the people objected that joking about child abuse and rape is not fine a prominent web portal (Mango****) defended these tweets claiming that ‘Fasih Ahmed is pointing out everything that is wrong with the society’. After criticism they claimed that it was not a defense but only a ‘benefit of doubt’.
Recent tweets by Newsweek Pakistan editor @therealfasih do not represent the views of @Newsweek. We are reviewing our relationship with @NewsweekPak, which operates under a license agreement.
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 24, 2018
Newsweek Pakistan is a weekly Magazine working under license from Newsweek America which distanced itself from the statement of its editor in Pakistan. In a tweet they claimed that they are reviewing their relation with Newsweek Pakistan.