Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan once again came under fire after he blamed women for the rising sexual violence in the country.
In an interview with Axios’ journalist Jonathan Swan on HBO, which aired on June 20, the prime minister said, “If a woman is wearing very few clothes it will have an impact on the man unless they are robots. It’s common sense.”
Khan’s comments triggered a massive outrage on social media with several politicians, journalists and netizens expressing anger and disgust against the ‘misogynistic remark’.
Earlier this year, in an interview with Geo News, Khan had made similar comments, stating that sexual violence was a product of ‘obscenity,’ which he described as a Western import. During a two-hour-long question and answer session with the public held in April, Khan was asked by a caller what the government plans to do in the light of rising incidents of rape and sexual violence, especially against children.
In response, Khan had blamed “fahashi” (vulgarity) for the rise of rape and sexual violence in the country. Khan also spoke of religion and the concept of ‘purdah’ in Islam. It is to remove “temptation” from society because “not everyone has willpower”, he said.
Jemima Goldsmith, British screenwriter and former wife of Imran Khan, had also criticised him for blaming “vulgarity” in society for the rise in rape cases and sexual violence in Pakistan. Quoting the Quran, she tweeted, “Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts…The onus is on men.”
She also added, “I’m hoping this is a misquote/mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, ‘Put a veil on the man’s eyes not on the woman’”.
Here is a look back at some of his statements that have sparked a backlash over the years:
Last year, the Pakistani Prime Minister faced backlash from opposition MPs after he said that the US had “martyred” Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist behind the 9/11 attacks, who was killed by US special forces in Abbottabad in 2011.
“I will never forget how we Pakistanis were embarrassed when the Americans came into Abbottabad and killed Osama Bin Laden, martyred him,” Khan said in parliament. He was immediately slammed by Opposition leader and former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who called Bin Laden an “ultimate terrorist”.
Criticised for taking constant U-turns on a number of issues, Prime Minister Khan once compared himself with Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and French leader Napolean Bonaparte, claiming that he was much smarter than the two leaders.
“Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte would not have suffered losses in wars in Russia if they had taken U-turns. Leaders should always be ready to take U-turns according to the requirement of their duties and best interests of the nation. One who doesn’t take decisions according to the demand of the situation is not a true leader,” he said in 2018. Critics in Pakistan attacked Khan for the comment.
“Hitler was a dictator. By giving his example, Khan has proved that he is inspired by Hitler and wants to be a dictator like him,” senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khurshed Shah said.
At a live telethon to raise funds for Pakistan’s battle against Covid last year, influential cleric Maulana Tariq Jameel blamed the shamelessness of women for the debilitating impact of the coronavirus pandemic. PM Khan, who was hosting the telethon, faced criticism when he refused to refute the cleric’s claims.
Prime Minister Khan stirred up a storm on social media when a video of him surfaced in which he stated that there was no mention of Jesus Christ in recorded history. “There is no mention of Jesus Christ (Hazrat Eesa) in any books of history,” he said at an event in Lahore.
“Moses got some mention, but Jesus Christ has no mention in history,” he added.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
