Samar Khan cycles towards gender equality and sustainability

Samar Khan, a Pakistani adventure athlete, took to social media on Thursday to promote girl’s inclusion in athletics, as well as to shine a light on the discrimination they face.

Samar has most recently conquered the highest peak in South America, adding summiting Mount Aconcagua to her impressive list of accomplishments which includes being the first Pakistani to cycle on the worlds third largest glacial systems, the first to cycle on the roof of Kilimanjaro, the first Pakistani women to summit Mount Elbrus, and the winner of the Red Bull home run snowboarding race.

But, arguably her most impressive accomplishment is how she helps girls in Pakistan participate in sports despite the roadblocks that many in the country try to create.

A video posted by Samar on Instagram showcases a cycling camp she organised in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over a year ago, overlaid with some of the vitriol she has faced.

“Indecent” and “Daughter of A Shameless” were just some of the comments Samar has been berated with. Rather than viewing cycling as a positive activity that will not only keep girls healthy, but also help the environment, Samar finds that “conservative individuals who are found everywhere” focus on the perceived indecency of it.

They “believe it breaks women’s hymen!”

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An example of such a reaction can be seen in the comments of the video itself. One user wrote “It’s fine for women to drive car and cycle and do business and study but we don’t want out daughter and sisters and mother to dress like you. You are not represent our culture you are not normal in our culture you are not modest.”

The above comment demonstrates the roundabout rhetoric used by many in the country, and is something that Samar has pointed out previously. In 2020, after being groped by a man on a motorcycle while riding a bike, she posted a Facebook video that questioned the logic that leads many to blame and restrict women rather than focusing on the perpetrators.

“Men tell their wives and daughters not to leave the house when it’s dark outside. I just want to know, do men turn into beasts at night that they can’t control themselves and behave?”

Samar’s attempts to provide a safe environment for girls to become athletically active have also faced criticism from religious leaders. Near the end of 2022, Jamaat-e-Islami stated that they will “not let such indecent activities take place in our area which would threaten our religion and culture,” adding that it represented a “western agenda.”

Despite all the participants being dressed in traditional clothing, the activity was still labelled un-Islamic for some un-explained reason. However, Samar explained how such reasoning stunts the development of safe spaces for women, sports careers, and the promotion of eco-friendly transport.

“When most developed countries are enjoying the benefits of cycling and sports, creating healthy spaces and infrastructure for their communities, we are debating whether it breaks the hymen of a women?” Samar told VOA News.

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However, Samar is trying to make a difference herself with Samar camp. She continues to hold cycling camps, among other events, providing girls with opportunities to discover a new passion while tackling the oppressive narrative that attempts to forbid them from it. She recently held a cycling event exclusively for girls in partnership with Mobilink Microfinance, which aimed to break stereotypes while reducing their carbon footprint. Samar also had a recent camp held in Booni, Upper Chitral this winter.

For information on future events, take a look at Samar’s personal Instagram and Facebook, as well as her sports club’s Instagram, Facebook, and website.