A deeply disturbing video involving Dolphin Ayan Ali, a transgender activist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, circulated on social media earlier this week, revealing a shocking instance of harassment. In the video, Ayan is seen being forced at gunpoint to undress, a traumatic experience captured on film by her assailant.
Dolphin Ayan Viral Video
Ayan Ali has shown resilience, urging her community to refrain from sharing the video to avoid further harm. “Every time we share such videos, we deepen our collective pain. Let’s not circulate videos, especially those that affect our own community,” she shared in a voice message to a transgender support group on WhatsApp, encouraging her community to act with restraint and solidarity.
This incident is yet another painful reminder of the violence faced by transgender individuals in Pakistan. Only a few days prior, two transgender people were tragically stabbed to death in Mardan, underscoring the relentless risks facing the community. Farzana Riaz, president of the Trans Action Alliance, highlighted the troubling pattern of harassment and blackmail that drives many transgender individuals to seek refuge in other provinces or abroad. “This video wasn’t filmed recently; it’s being used to extort money from Ayan, who has already paid a high price to keep it from spreading,” Riaz explained, adding that similar videos are often circulated as a form of intimidation and exploitation.
Riaz also noted the lack of meaningful police response. Despite numerous FIRs being filed, little to no action has been taken against those responsible for such crimes. “Not one official has condemned these attacks, which speaks volumes about the authorities’ indifference,” she stated. According to data from the Trans Action Alliance, 145 transgender individuals have been murdered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between 2015 and November 2024, yet there have been no convictions.
The public has taken to social media to demand justice for Ayan and to call for the arrest of her harassers. Dr. Mehrub Awan, a transgender rights activist with the Awami National Party, expressed solidarity with Ayan, stating, “We’ve tried everything—media coverage, podcasts, books—but this violence is deeply embedded. Just last month, Ayan was out protesting; the suffering of our community seems never-ending. When will the violence against transgender individuals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stop?”
Legal experts assert that while victims can file FIRs, fear of retaliation often silences them. In cases like Ayan’s, perpetrators could face charges under Section 354A (for stripping with intent to insult) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation with a weapon), both punishable by life imprisonment or even death.
The incident has not only reignited the conversation about transgender rights in Pakistan but also calls attention to the urgent need for stronger protections and stricter enforcement against crimes targeting vulnerable communities. The collective outcry, both online and offline, reflects a shared desire to see justice served and safety restored for the transgender community in Pakistan.