By Malak Khaled
“Crimes behind the screen—would you dare say it face-to-face?” This haunting question set the tone for the Harassment Isn’t Virtual campaign by Lebanese model Nour Arida and singer Haifa Wehbe.
In an Instagram video, the two icons began reading explicit and offensive comments written about each other online.
These comments, which blurred the lines between virtual harassment and real-life harm, were a stark reminder of the pervasiveness of the issue.
With Arabic and English subtitles, the video addressed a global audience. The campaign aimed to confront viewers with the harsh reality of everyday comments and their impact.
The Illusion of a Virtual World
The campaign focuses on how online abuse is often dismissed as “virtual” despite its tangible effects. Nour Arida and Haifa Wehbe stressed that words written online are not harmless.
They carry weight and can lead to real-world consequences, with some perpetrators carrying out their threats in real life. Nour Arida drove the point home, stating, “This is rape. It’s happening online.”
Targeting Mothers and Children
Nour Arida shared how online harassment doesn’t stop at her—it extends to her family. Even pictures with her young daughter have attracted sexualized comments. “What gives them the right?” was the question raised, exposing the depth of the issue.
Dehumanizing Women
Both women highlighted how harassment strips women of their humanity. “They see the Arab woman not as if she is a woman. They don’t see that I am a mother. And I have a heart, a soul, intelligence, and brains,” Arida said. This dehumanization fosters a culture where abuse becomes normalized.
The Emotional Toll of Online Harassment
Harassment Isn’t Virtual emphasizes how online comments take a significant emotional toll, with some victims pushed to the point of suicide.
Arida shared how these comments make her second-guess her choices, even though she has always stood by her right to wear what makes her feel good: “This is my body. I will never be ashamed of being a woman.”
A Call to Speak Up
The video concludes with an urgent call to action. “Everyone has a voice. The most important thing is to speak up! Expose the harasser, tell a friend, or expose them online. Hate isn’t virtual. Harassment isn’t virtual.”
Haifa Wehbe highlighted the alarming reality that while social media has become a global platform, it offers little protection against such abuse By encouraging victims and witnesses to break their silence, the campaign hopes to dismantle the power of harassers.
Freedom Is Priceless
“Freedom is the most valuable thing you possess. Don’t let anyone take away your freedom,” Nour Arida and Haifa Wehbe assert. Harassment Isn’t Virtual is a movement to challenge societal norms, confront online harassment, and protect the dignity of all women, online and offline.
Nour Arida and Haifa Wehbe’s campaign shines a spotlight on a pressing issue that affects countless women worldwide. By sharing their experiences and calling for action, they’ve taken a significant step in breaking the silence surrounding online harassment.
Their message is clear: words have power, and everyone has a role in creating a safer, more respectful online environment.
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