PM Imran Khan clarifies rape stance

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday clarified his views on rape, saying comments attributed to him during a previous interview were deliberately taken out of context.

“I would never say such a stupid thing where a rape victim is somehow responsible for the crime committed against them,” said PM Khan in an interview with PBS News Hour.

“Anyone who commits rape, solely and solely that person is responsible. So let’s be clear about that. No matter how provocative the woman is or whatever she wears, the person who commits rape is fully responsible. Never is the victim responsible,” said PM Khan as soon as he was asked the question.

The premier told Judy Woodruff, the interviewer, that his comments were “deliberately” taken “completely” out of context.

“They were simply talking about Pakistan society where we are having a sharp rise in sex crimes,” explained the premier. He also said sex crimes do not only include women.

“More than rape, there are child abuse [cases] which are going through the roof, so my comments were in that context,” said PM Khan.

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The premier stated that he used the word “pardah”, adding that the word does not just mean clothes or is restricted to women only. He said that “pardah” is also for men and means to “bring down temptation in a society”.

“And I have to say because I know all the interviews I have given. Never would I say such a stupid thing where a person who is raped is somehow responsible. It is always the rapist that is responsible,” said PM Khan.

Woodruff also questioned the PM on whether the importance of Islam in Pakistan stops him from taking a stronger stance for women.
“Absolutely not. Islam gives dignity [and] respect to women,” the PM said to her question. He added that after traveling all over the world, he found that in Muslim countries, women are treated with more respect.

“In Pakistan, even in other Muslim countries I have seen, women [are] treated with far more respect and given more dignity,” said PM Khan.