Pakistan PM Imran Khan again shows his regressive mindset; blames women's clothing for rapes
By Vipin Vijayan | First Published Jun 21, 2021, 2:21 PM IST"If you raise temptation in the society to the point -- and all these young guys have nowhere to go -- it has consequences in the society," says Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has been caught on the wrong foot once again with his sexist remarks on women's clothing and rape.
In an interview with Axios Political Correspondent Jonathan Swan, Imran Khan said that if a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they are robots.
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"It is common sense," the Pakistan Prime Minister said.
Questioned about the 'epidemic of sexual violence in Pakistan, Imran said, "If you raise temptation in the society to the point -- and all these young guys have nowhere to go -- it has consequences in the society."
Asked if wearing clothes really be blamed for sexual violence, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "It depends which society you live in. If in a society people have not seen that kind of thing (women in lesser clothes), it will have an impact on them. If you grow up in a society like yours (Jonathan's), it will not impact you. This cultural imperialism -- whatever is acceptable to our culture must be followed by everyone else -- is wrong."
Imran Khan's remarks triggered a massive backlash on social media.
Imran Khan is r*pe apologist and hates women. pic.twitter.com/lx0SoHTeWU
— Anaya Khan (@AnayaNKhan)
This is not an attack on you, PM - this is a genuine plea to make us understand why you keep putting the onus of rape on "fahashi" and then on women's clothing. I can understand you want men to do purdah too, but then say it clearly so men understand.
— Nuzhat S. Siddiqi (@guldaar)
Extremely embarrassing & disgusting for PM repeatedly blame women’s clothing rather than men’s want to exert violent power for rape.
This lets down every woman, child, & man who’s been sexually violated.
Please educate him, . pic.twitter.com/1p30Hgz6nk
This is not the first time that Imran Khan has made a statement blaming victims for sexual violence.
In April this year, the Pakistani prime minister faced flak from human rights and women's rights groups in the country for saying on national television that the concept of the veil (purdah) in Islam is to avoid temptation in the society and that not everyone in the society has the will power to control temptation.
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