Prime Minister Imran Khan has been facing the wrath of netizens after he made remarks in which he blamed women’s dress for a rise in rape cases in the country.
According to the prime minister, in any society where vulgarity is prevalent, there are consequences. PM Khan has advised women to cover up to prevent temptation. The prime minister even linked vulgarity, with the concerning rise in cases of sexual violence, including rape.
His statement has outraged netizens and Hundreds of people have signed a statement demanding an apology from the prime minister and there was widespread outrage on social media, even celebrities also condemned the statement and called it ‘insensitive.
The outrage and discourse is about victim-blaming, claims that not every man has the ‘willpower’ to contain his urge for sexual violence, and linking rape to temptation & not a violent display of power/oppression.
Fix the laws. Police the streets; make them safe.— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) April 8, 2021
So when @ImranKhanPTI goes abroad, does he ask the women around him to cover up so he doesn’t get tempted to rape them? Or are foreign women worthy of self control?
— sohniyeh (@sohnianika) April 5, 2021
If I let my anger dictate me, Feminustani would just become a series of videos attempting to beat the rape apologist/simplistic thinker out of Imran Khan. But since there is zero chance of that happening, possibly better off expending my energies on something else.
— Sabahat Zakariya (@sabizak) April 5, 2021
Pakistani PM Imran Khan stoops to the shameful level of blaming how rape victims dress for their fate. He says it’s the “vulgarity” of their dress that makes it hard for men to maintain the “willpower” to resist “temptation.” What century does he live in? https://t.co/eGIKaSLngq pic.twitter.com/MulCpzm8c0
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) April 9, 2021
“Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts.” Quran 24:31
The onus is on men. https://t.co/StkKE3HIPM
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) April 7, 2021
Dear @ImranKhanPTI rape is a result of power imbalance not temptation. Rapists control their urges when they’ve fear of retribution, accountability & conviction and when they’re made free from such fears due to gendered social structures just like ours they’ll even rape an infant
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) April 5, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to enlighten himself more about the complexities of sexual violence against children and females. Rape of children is not a sexual act, it’s a sickness of mind. Rape of women is not about sexual pleasure, it is a sick inhuman display of power. 1/2
— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) April 4, 2021
Currently arguing with my dad about what Imran Khan said that day about rape was wrong and because he is the PM and his statements hold value, it actually enables these monsters because it then becomes a debate about religion and pardah when it should be about the mindset
— x (@Chaudharyysaab) April 7, 2021
On the other hand, there were few who also defended the prime minister’s remarks and claimed that his statement was misquoted:
Prime Minister Imran Khan plunges Pakistan’s values as the international media picks up his comments perpetuating rape culture as he is furthers his narrative like a rape apologist.
1. BBC
2. Al Jazeera
3. Sky News
4. CBS
5. The Times
6. Telegraph
7. Gulf News
8. TBS pic.twitter.com/9OLAtrAAhR— Fatah (@fatah_pak) April 7, 2021
Complete misinterpretation of the facts. PM In his response to a question never mentioned any particular dress code and it’s relationship with the rape incidents.Plz don’t spread this misinformation. Throughout his life PM imran khan had always stood for women and children rights https://t.co/JUBVoSDoL7
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) April 7, 2021
I believe @ImranKhanPTI words have been taken out of context and a big ruckus created by the so-called champions of Freedom and Liberty. He’s clearly condemning rape and giving a message that going out of the boundaries of modesty invites trouble and who can deny this fact?
— Rohail Hyatt (@rohailhyatt) April 8, 2021
