If rape is imminent, just enjoy it: Nabil Gabol's several sexist remarks cause uproar

PPP leader's demeaning and misogynistic comments have not sat well with many

Entertainment Desk April 03, 2023
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Pakistani politician Nabil Gabol is under fire for passing a string of misogynistic and disturbing remarks in several interviews. The remarks have been unearthed after his latest stint on the podcast, The Pakistan Experience.

During the conversation, Gabol draws an unruly analogy between sexual assault and political oppression. While doing so, he trivialises rape: “There is a saying in English, ‘If rape is imminent, just enjoy it’.” When the host tells him there is no such saying, he doubles down on his claim, suggesting that it is, in fact, a saying.

“If you’re so helpless that you can endure rape, then just enjoy it,” he maintains. “Otherwise, if you have any shame, you stand your ground and don’t endure it. When we endure it, we get used. How do you get used? I don’t believe in this thing that you have been forced,” Gabol goes on to assert. “If you’re being forced, stand your ground – raise your voice. You can stand against it. What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll go to jail?” adds the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member.

A Twitter user sharing the clip asked, “Could someone please tell me this politician's name (the one being interviewed?) He's from PPP. Whoever he is, he's got the sickest mind ever. He just said ‘When rape is imminent, just enjoy it.’ What a sick, sick mind. If people like him end up making our policies and laws, rape wouldn't even be deemed a crime. Never heard as filthy a remark as this one.”

In a previous podcast shared by another tweep, Gabol can be seen callously asking for famed social media sensation, Ayesha’s (Mera Dil Yeh Pukare Aaja) contact details in a suggestive manner. He then claims he was only testing the host and is a “shareef (innocent)” man.

In yet another video that has surfaced, he can be seen claiming that while people of Karachi keep their emotions bottled up to “release them in the bathroom,” people like him “can simply get whomever” they want.

Social media uproar

As a result, Gabol and PPP have been on the receiving end of backlash from many social media users. For instance, Fatima Bhutto took to Twitter to state, “Utter filth. Nabil Gabol exposes the absolute criminal mindset of Sindh’s government. He has done nothing for Lyari, for the people he supposedly represents, and laughs while talking of such violence. Horrendous.”

Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari also took to the microblogging site to state, “His (repulsive) rhetoric belongs to his individual only and is in no way a representation of our party. In case it wasn’t already abundantly obvious – we absolutely and unequivocally stand for the rights and protection of women. Misogyny has no space in our religion, nor our party.”

Aurat March Karachi tweeted, “We strongly condemn the vile and misogynistic remarks made by former MPA + MNA and current PPP member, Nabil Gabol, whereby he joked about and trivialized rape in the most disgusting manner. We demand that the PPP urgently suspends his membership permanently.”

Actor Nadia Jamil, too, condemned the comments on the micro-blogging site. “Disgusted but not surprised,” she wrote. “My Gabol, wherever you are, rape can never be “enjoyed”. What a terrible thing to say. Demeaning and belittling the anguish, the torn bodies & souls of every raped child, man and woman. Please learn to speak with grace, dignity and kindness, showing more sensitivity”

Actor Adnan Malik wrote in an Insta Story, “Despicable. Not sure if he’s using this as a metaphor or being literal but either way it’s completely unacceptable.”

Gabol’s audacity

The politician, however, did not find anything wrong with what he said. And taking to Twitter in light of the furore, he noted, “I did not know I will get so much attraction and attention for my statement which I quoted from a French novel and if a sensible mind would understand what I said, if rape is imminent, just enjoy it or else standup for the injustice in society, [means] when u can’t raise your voice, then sit quietly and just shut up and enjoy.”

PPP responds

PPP has now issued a show cause notice to Gabol, demanding an explanation for his statements. “People's Party has issued a show-cause notice to party leader Nabil Gabol for using inappropriate words on private TV. A show cause notice has been issued to Nabil Gabol by PPP Sindh President Nisar Khoro. Nabil Gabol has been directed to explain within three days. Interpreter,” reads a tweet made on its official party handle

A follow-up tweet adds, “In case of non-clarification, organizational disciplinary action will be taken against Nabil Gabol. Inappropriate conversation and use of unparliamentary words is not the policy of PPP.”

The backlash continues

Several, however, are partaking in the online vitriol against Gabol and the mindset that permeates through society, allowing rapists and rape apologists to roam scot-free. “PPP will fire some random Twitter account holder but give tickets to such scumbags like Nabil Gabol,” stated one Twitter user, highlighting the need for a “massive software update”.

Another user wrote, "Hum jazbaat dil mein nahi rakhte. Jo pasand aagayi uthaaliya – Nabil Gabol proudly talks about getting women picked up without their consent, asks for the number of a minor kid like a pervert. Yet, he has the audacity to say, ‘You have a dirty mind’ to someone else.”

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 5,200 rapes were reported in the country in 2021. The conviction rate in rape cases is less than 3%.

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COMMENTS (1)

Atsul | 1 year ago | Reply If Bakhtawar Zardari is so seriousl about Women rights and values then why isn t she calling for kicking Gabol out of thier party a guys who have repeatedly made disgusting remarks about women which clearly shows what he thinks about women.
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