Jemima Goldsmith has criticised her former husband and Prime Minister Imran Khan for his statement blaming women for the rise in rape cases.
In a weekend interview on live television, Prime Minister Imran had said that increase in rapes indicated the “consequences in any society where vulgarity is on the rise”.
He linked the rise in rape cases with how women dress and advised them to cover up to prevent temptation.
Jemima took to Twitter and quoted a verse from the holy Quran and wrote: “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’.”
She referred to the verse that says: ‘Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts.’
Jemima also quoted an incident where a veiled woman complained that men used to follow her.
Premier Imran hit out at what he called ‘vulgarity’ in societies around the world – singling out India’s Bollywood and the ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ culture of England in the 70s as examples – saying that is to blame for moral decline which leads to sex attacks.
He then praised the Islamic concept of purdah – or modesty – as an antidote to that decline, saying it is important to ‘keep temptation in check’.
‘World history tells when you increase fahashi (vulgarity) in society, two things happen: sex crimes increase and the family system breaks down,’ he said.
‘This entire concept of purdah (covering up or segregating) is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it.’
He added that while his government will introduce legislation to protect women from attacks, it is up to the whole of society to help by preserving modesty.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the government of Pakistan claimed misperceptions were being spread about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s comments.
They said the prime minister spoke about the societal responses and the need to put efforts together to eliminate the menace of rape completely.
‘Unfortunately, part of his comment, consciously or unconsciously, has been distorted to mean something that he never intended,’ it was said.
The spokesperson added the prime minister remains fully committed to utilise all avenues at the government’s disposal to tackle the incidence of rape.
