Lahore university to probe social media group targeting women students: sources

LAHORE: A private university in Lahore announced on Monday to investigate a social media group run by male students that was used to harass and objectify women and make inappropriate comments about them, sources said.

Sources also said the university had set up an investigative committee and that it would analyse the issue in detail after women students gathered for what eventually transformed into an unplanned sit-in as allies came together in support.

The university, sources added further, confirmed that the Facebook group had been shut down. In a Twitter post, its students and alumni committee addressed the "serious misconduct using a Facebook group by Male students currently [enrolled]," saying "such behaviour will not be tolerated."

According to a student, women at the university had unearthed a Facebook group comprising around 600 — mostly male, students — that was involved in circulating derogatory, explicit content targetting women.

The students who were targeted, as well as their allies, consequently came together in solidarity to demand administrative action against the misogynistic campus culture that aided such an occurrence, the student added.