The former wife of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith, has come out in support of him after a UK newspaper misquoted his comments about modesty.
The Daily Mail published a story on Wednesday, misinterpreting one of PM Khan’s comments from the live telethon on the rise of rape cases in Pakistan.
World history tells when you increase fahashi (vulgarity) in society, two things happen: sex crimes increase and the family system breaks down
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While suggesting capital punishment for rapists and pedophiles, Imran Khan also emphasized modesty and the concept of purdah (veiling) for women to avoid tempting such individuals.
This entire concept of purdah (covering up or segregating) is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it.
Here is Khan’s full comment on the matter:
We have introduced a very strict ordinance against rape and pedophilia. However, this alone, would not curb rape in society as our entire social system will have to fight against this menace. This is why there is a concept of Pardah in the Quran. The entire concept of purdah is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it.
Prime Minister Imran Khan's answer to a question about Child abuse and rape issues. #آپ_کا_وزیراعظم_آپکے_ساتھ pic.twitter.com/licKenJ8kT
— MNA (@Engr_Naveed111) April 4, 2021
Although his comment was balanced according to the Quran, an organized campaign has been launched against him while targeting a cherry-picked statement.
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PM Khan, who has recently converted a bill into law to introduce capital punishment and the chemical castration of rapists, is being portrayed as a ‘rape apologist’.
Nonetheless, Jemima was quick to jump to his defense on Twitter. Replying to the Daily Mail’s story, she first shared a Quranic verse that commits men to restrain their eyes and guard private parts. She then added that the next verse orders the same for women.
“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
And yes, yes 24.30. You get the point.
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) April 7, 2021
In her next tweet, Jemima defended Khan by saying that his words seem to be misrepresented and mistranslated.
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." https://t.co/NekU0QklnL
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) April 7, 2021
Not only men but women also have to ensure the veil. And the temptations are affiliated with woman though but man have to down their Eyes.
She is not defending him. She’s hoping that the IK she knows hasn’t changed his opinion on the matter!
The point on the increasing of ‘fahashi’ is valid, but it shouldn’t be used to justify rape in any way.