Khan blames women for rape rise
PAKISTAN’S Prime Minister Imran Khan has sparked outrage after he blamed how women dress for a rise in rapes in his country.
The former cricket ace advised women to cover up to prevent temptation, adding: “In any society where vulgarity is prevalent, there are consequences.”
Mr Khan, 68, made his comments during a weekend television phone-in when he was asked about government efforts to reduce rape and child sex abuse.
The Oxford-educated premier said with rape
“spreading like a cancer” within Pakistani society, preserving the Islamic concept of modesty should be used by women as a defence.
He went on: “World history tells when you increase fahashi [vulgarity] in society, two things happen: sex crimes increase and the family system breaks down.
“This entire concept of purdah [covering up or segregating] is to avoid temptation – not everyone has the willpower to avoid it.”
An average of 11 rapes are reported in Pakistan each day, which is thought to be only a fraction of the total.
Of 22,000 rapes reported in the last six years, just 77 people have been convicted – the rate of 0.3 per cent ranks among the lowest in the world.
Shocking
An online petition signed by women’s groups denounced Mr Khan’s comments as “factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous”.
Senator Sherry Rehman, parliamentary leader of the opposition Pakistan Peoples
Party said: “The Prime Minister must stop blaming women for provoking violence against women.
“His shocking remarks give blanket impunity to offenders, rapists, misogynists of all stripes.”
Pakistan’s human rights commission said: “It lays the blame on rape survivors who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes.”
Nationwide protests erupted last year when a police chief admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion.