PM Imran says wearing 'few clothes' in a society like Pakistan's may lead to rape, Twitter disagrees

Many have called out the premier for 'victim blaming' while others are defending him

While many lauded Prime Minister Imran Khan for categorically denying the US access to Pakistani territory for any sort of action inside Afghanistan, several are furious at him for dubbing women’s clothes as a cause of rape.

In an excerpt of his interview on HBO – aired on Sunday and shared on Saturday on Axios' website – interviewer Jonathan Swan asks if the PM thinks what women wear has any effect on the temptation that leads to rapes, Khan says, “If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they’re robots. I mean it is common sense.”

Confused, Swan rephrases his question, “But is it really going to provoke acts of sexual violence?” Maintaining his stance, Khan proceeds to elaborate, “It depends on which society you live in."

He adds, “If in a society people haven’t seen that sort of thing, it will have an impact [on them]. Growing up in a society like yours, maybe it won’t impact you. This cultural imperialism… Whatever is in our culture must be acceptable to everyone else."

Appalling comments by Pakistan’s Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI where he blames women for rape because of how they dress. Shame https://t.co/4sw9cRYQPi

— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) June 21, 2021

The outrage

Since a snippet of this particular conversation went viral on social media, many on Twitter have been expressing their disappointment at the premier.

To matlab bachay bhi aurton ke kapron kee wajah se rape ho rahay hain?

— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) June 21, 2021

Only 3 days after a child was raped by a cleric, Imran Khan chooses to blame "few clothes" worn by women for rape culture.

Its not a slip of tongue. Such victim blaming is a consistent position held by IK since the motorway incident last year. Our PM is a rape apologist.

— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) June 21, 2021

By this logic, the children in madrissas must have the most provocative dressing for them to get abused, molested and raped by the 'religious figures' who aren't robots hence their monstrous acts being justified by our PM. Wow. https://t.co/YlaqNjreOE

— None of your business (@sadusertweets) June 21, 2021

how are men not offended when someone says that men are inherently potential rapists? do men lack agency and mental capacity to practice self-control? https://t.co/yKcMQUMeEJ

— Maryam (@maryamful) June 21, 2021

That's cause men are incapable of decency according to our PM.

Decency can only be expected of robots..

— Hiba (@Hibaah_yar) June 21, 2021

The defendants

Others, however, feel Khan blamed the society we live in and not its women. And are therefore, in agreement with what he said.

cant believe I am defending imran khan but what he said is true..u dont live in an ideal society. its always smart to adjust according to the society..

— ProudCommunist (@CommunistVik) June 21, 2021

You can twist the words no matter what, this is not what he said, he blamed society not the women. And yes cultural imperialism is a thing.

— أنا دمي فلسطيني‏‏🇵🇸 (@imranulumer) June 21, 2021

Is asking women to dress modestly a crime??

— Hameed Pasha حمید پاشا (@demuremystique) June 21, 2021

Appalling? How.
He didn't say anything wrong. If a woman wears short clothes at a place where it is uncommon, it will hv an effect. For cross check, u can visit any beach in Goa, where u will find Indian uncles staring at Russians with lust.
Vilifying IK is all u hv been doing

— V 🗝️ (@FVRH4N) June 21, 2021

Nidhi I have very high regard for u. But I do agree with what he has said. Wearing short clothes in a conservative society does have its ramifications. Men get aroused.

— Gauraf' 💋💞 (@SmotherWithKiss) June 21, 2021

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