Zoha Tauqeer Urges Women in Violent Marriages to Put Safety First

Pakistani actress Zoha Tauqeer has used her social media platform to speak candidly about domestic violence, urging women living in abusive marriages not to let social expectations come before their safety.

The actress shared a message on Instagram addressing the way anger and emotional control are often discussed through gender-based stereotypes. Rather than framing the issue as a disagreement between men and women, Zoha pointed toward the more serious concern of violence and its consequences.

“People say women can’t control their emotions and somehow every time I open the news, it’s about some guy who lost their temper and did something,” she wrote.

Zoha stressed that the issue extends beyond comparisons between the genders. Her message instead drew attention to violence as a wider social concern, particularly when abuse takes place within marriage.

Zoha Tauqeer’s message to women facing abuse

The actress made her position particularly clear when addressing women who may be living with an abusive partner.

“If you’re in a violent marriage, I urge you to leave,” Zoha wrote, making safety the central point of her message.

She also referred to reports of rape and violence as deeply disturbing, using her platform to encourage women not to remain in dangerous situations simply because of pressure surrounding marriage, family or social expectations.

Her most striking line came at the end of the post: “A divorced daughter is much better than a dead daughter.”

The statement reflects a broader conversation around the pressure women can face to preserve a marriage even when their safety is at risk. By directly addressing the stigma attached to divorce, Zoha placed the wellbeing of women ahead of the idea that staying married should come at any cost.

A wider conversation around domestic violence

Zoha’s post comes at a time when discussions surrounding marriage, divorce and women’s choices continue to attract public attention in Pakistan. While divorce can carry significant social and family pressures, conversations around abusive relationships increasingly highlight the importance of recognising violence rather than treating marital endurance as the only measure of a successful relationship.

Importantly, Zoha’s comments were presented as a personal appeal rather than a claim about any individual or specific marriage. She did not identify a particular case in her post, instead using her platform to speak more broadly about women experiencing violence.

For women facing abuse, the actress’s message carries a straightforward emphasis: personal safety should not be sacrificed to protect appearances or avoid the stigma associated with separation.

Her words have added a celebrity voice to an issue that extends well beyond the entertainment industry, keeping attention on the need for conversations about domestic violence to focus on safety, dignity and support.