Imran Khan's Oxford chancellor bid slammed as insult to women: Guardian letter

Imran Khan’s Oxford chancellor bid faces backlash for alleged disrespect towards women and controversial views.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been described as a Taliban supporter, and his nomination for the position of Oxford Chancellor was labbelled as an affront to women, in a letter published in the Observer section of British news outlet The Guardian.

The Guardian, a British newspaper, published the Observer letter condemning Khan's application for Oxford Chancellor, arguing that his nomination contradicts university traditions.

It questions whether a person supportive of the Taliban, who has endorsed restrictions on women's education and called Osama bin Laden a martyr, should be considered for the role.

The letter further critiques Khan’s position, highlighting his past comments about women's attire and suggesting that his candidacy disrespects both current and former female Oxford graduates. It asserts that Khan's nomination would be preferred by the Taliban and their sympathisers over any other candidate.

The letter then endorses Lady Elish Angiolini as a suitable candidate for Oxford University. It praises Angiolini as a non-political asset who is widely respected and promises to make the university more accessible to underprivileged students if she becomes Chancellor.

The author likens Khan to Andrew Tate, a controversial social media influencer known for his problematic statements about women. She questions Khan’s availability for the role, noting that the Oxford Chancellor’s term is a decade-long commitment, and Khan is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence.

The letter also criticises Khan’s past praise of China amid allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims and questions his stance on freedom of expression as contradictory to university values.

Experts suggest that Khan's candidacy has suffered a severe blow following this criticism.

Earlier, another British publication The Daily Mail in an article had reported that the University of Oxford had faced a deluge of complaints and raised serious questions about Khan’s suitability for the Chancellor role, branding him a "disgraced" former prime minister.