Actress Alizeh Shah has boldly responded to trolls who were criticising her dresses, saying that she has never needed public approval for her style and doesn’t seek anyone’s permission.

In a statement shared on Instagram, she said, “I have been wearing sleeveless dresses, shorts, and skirts since childhood. My mother never forced me to follow a certain way of dressing or stick to outdated traditions. She gave me love, not limits. This is part of my personality not a new behaviour.”

Alizeh Shah went on to say that the backlash isn’t really about clothes but about a mindset that seeks to control women.

“This is not just about how I dress this is about a mentality that wants to keep women confined,” she said. “I am not here to meet anyone’s standards. Whatever I’ve achieved is through my own hard work, and I do not need anyone’s permission to live my life.”

She also addressed those who issue religious judgments against others, “Those who issue fatwas on others should first reflect on their own actions.”

In a heartfelt appeal to her critics, Alizeh quoted verse 256 from Surah Al-Baqarah: “There is no compulsion in religion.”

She concluded by saying, “If you think it’s wrong for women to act or appear online, then watching those dramas and videos is also wrong. Islam teaches us self-accountability before judging others. Every individual is accountable to Allah not to public opinion.”