Explained: Activist Rehana Fathima’s 2020 Nudity Case, Kerala High Court Judgement
This was a pathbreaking judgement!
It is a fact that a woman’s body has always been sexualised. We have come a long way to raise our voices in favour of de-sexualising a woman’s body. However, in 2020, Rehana Fathima, an activist, faced legal charges for a controversial video she shared on her social media platform with the message of de-sexualising female bodies. Three years later, the Kerala High Court finally passed the judgement on her case, with some noteworthy and eye-opening remarks on the autonomy of a woman’s body and freedom of choice.
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What Was The Case?
In 2020, activist Rehana Fathima shared a video on her Facebook page. In the video, her kids were seen painting her bare upper body. The idea behind the video was to teach the upcoming generations the importance of de-sexualising a woman’s body. She also stated that his first teaching starts from home. However, Rehana Fathima was slammed for this video and faced charges under the POCSO Act.
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The Recent Judgement
On June 5, the Kerala High Court bench presided over by Justice Kauser Edappagath heard the case the plea of activist Rehana Fathima and passed a pathbreaking judgement. The Kerala High Court firmly stated that Rehana Fathima’s video was not obscene. The judge went ahead to remark that a woman’s naked body should not be assumed to be sexual by “Default” or be associated with sex.
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The court noted that the activist’s video does not prove that it was an act to gain sexual pleasure. And further, highlighted the freedom and autonomy of a woman over her body. Justice Kauser also gave an example of the Pulukali festival in which a man’s body is painted as a tradition. Stating that a man’s bare body with six-pack abs, and shirtless pictures are never considered obscene, the court made its stand clear that a woman’s body also needs to be de-sexualised.
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Also Read: Activist Rehana Fathima Shared A Video Of Her Kids Painting Her Topless Body. She Went Too Far
These powerful statements coming from one of the highest courts are historical. However, we have a long way to go when it comes to changing perspectives of society about over-sexualising female bodies.
