Rights groups have taken exception to the prime minister’s remarks on the causes of sexual violence and rape, terming it factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous. DawnNewsTV/File
ISLAMABAD: The Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and other rights groups have taken exception to the prime minister’s remarks on the causes of sexual violence and rape, terming it factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous.
A statement signed by representatives of several rights organisations said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had actively fostered and promoted rape culture and rape apologia.
“In a country where the total reported cases of rape represent only the tip of the iceberg, such statements have the effect of further traumatising and silencing survivors of sexual violence by placing the blame on them, instead of on those who carry out the crime and the system that enables rapists,” the statement said.
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April 7, 2021
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and women rights forums Tuesday condemned the remarks made recently by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the causes of sexual violence and rape, terming them ‘factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous’.
In a statement, the Human Right Commission of Pakistan said it was appalled by Prime Minister Imran Khan s remarks linking the incidence of rape to obscenity. This is an unacceptable behaviour on the part of a public leader, said the body in a statement. Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes.
ISLAMABAD: Outraged by his remark linking sexual violence to increasing obscenity in society, Pakistanis have flooded social media with memes of PM Imran Khan, many of them showing him in Western attire in the company of foreigners, and accompanied by comments like he is trying to convert half-clad British beauties to the benefits of purdah .
In response to a question in his latest telethon, Khan had said, History tells us that when ‘fahashi’ (obscenity) increases in society, sex crimes go up and the family system breaks down .
Pakistani journalist Reema Omer tore into him on Twitter. PM’s comments linking rape with obscenity are ignorant, dangerous and condemnable, she wrote. His propagation of this rape myth shows he has no understanding of the issue, and amounts to providing excuses for criminal acts of perpetrators while blaming the victims.
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