Hamza Ali Abbasi: ‘Men Are Accountable For Their Own Gaze’

Hamza Ali Abbasi

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had made some problematic statements about how women’s clothing is the cause of rape because men in Pakistan aren’t robots. His friend, Hamza Ali Abbasi says men are told to account for their own gaze.

In a recent interview, the Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor shared his views on the state of religion in Pakistan. When asked about the PM’s statement, citing women’s clothing as a cause for rape, Hamza Ali Abbasi said that;

“Islam does not permit men to attack women, regardless of what they are wearing, …  According to the Quran and Sunnah, women and men are given separate commands. Men are told to account for their own gaze and behavior, regardless of what a woman is doing or wearing. Regardless of what’s happening in society or what women, or for that matter men and children wear, no one is safe from such heinous crimes. That is not a variable, at least in my own judgment, in this particular matter.”

Yet the Pyarey Afzal star asserts that PM Imran Khan’s statements were taken out of context. He made a point to clarify that he is not defending the statements, but;

“As far as Khan sahab’s comments are concerned, when seen in context, I’d give him the point. He spoke of something in context, people just picked one line out of it. In a way, what he was saying is correct. We aren’t a society in which these desires can be curbed through nightclubs, red-light districts at every corner, and strip clubs. Our society isn’t the kind where open dating or sexual relationships are accepted. So, in a way, he’s right. Since there aren’t any outlets and if you keep feeding them such content, it builds frustration. Not that having outlets is a good thing, but then they let out their frustration in other ways. However, I’m not defending Khan sahab, I am just giving my explanation that this in no way means that you make what a woman is wearing an excuse to harass and rape. This is unacceptable.”

Hamza Ali Abbasi then talked about the accountability of women.

“The same goes for women. A believing, Muslim woman who knows this is a message from God, has to be answerable for her behavior, modesty, gaze, and clothing herself, regardless of what men are doing in society. Men can’t say that I indulged in something because the society around me was doing it as well, and the same goes for women. You can’t say that society was like this so I left the house and took off my clothes.”

The Alif actor did admit how the issue of rape and sexual crimes against women was rooted in male behavior.

“Being a man, I will tell men to watch it because the major problem lies in men when it comes to this matter. Whatever women are doing, it is billions of men who are the audience. Men are the ones who spend the money and make the effort to watch these things and then go and harass women.”

Speaking of self-accountability Hamza Ali Abbasi explained how personal reform was also a hurdle for him during his spiritual journey.

“The primary obstacle I faced was myself. The most important purpose is my own moral and ethical reformation. It was very difficult for me to go against my own passions and desires.”