‘Rape is an act of violence’: Pakistanis educate PM Imran on rape

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday held an interactive session with the general public via phone calls in which he answered their questions and responded to their concerns.

During the session, while responding to a question about what the federal government is doing to curb the recent surge of rape cases and sexual violence especially against children, PM Khan instead of laying out his government’s plans blamed the rising cases on vulgarity.

“Purda ka hukm isi liye ha”

No! ‘Parda’ ka hukm is liye nahi hai! Purda was NEVER meant to avert temptation.

Quran says that no one will be answerable for another person’s sins. The idea that women hide themselves up so that men don’t commit any sin is against Quranic values. pic.twitter.com/2oBBcNiMF9

— Fariha A. (@fariha_ab1) April 4, 2021

The premier’s comments caused an uproar on social media, prompting Pakistanis to not only bust myths related to rape but also call him out for his insensitive remarks. Some even shared their own personal experiences to make it more clear that why rape happens and why it is never okay to blame the victim.

Repeat after me.

The only one to be blamed for rape of a woman is “ The Rapist”.

How hard it is to grasp this basic fact ? https://t.co/PD7x8q1iZ7

— Maria Memon (@Maria_Memon) April 6, 2021

وزیر اعظم کا ریپ واقعات کو لباس اور پردے سے جوڑنا افسوسناک ہی نہیں خطرناک بھی ہے۔براہ راست وکٹم بلیمنگ ہے۔

ریپ کا لباس سے کوئی تعلق نہیں، شہوانیت بھی ثانوی حیثیت رکھتی ہے۔

ریسرچ رپورٹس سے حقائق حاضر ہیں

pic.twitter.com/k8UKBFRLrN

— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) April 5, 2021

In Sept 2020, I had to sit through a torturous hearing of a 20 yr old woman raped repeatedly by her own blood father for 8 years in Karachi East District and Sessions Court.

Pray tell more, how rape is about sexual desires of men towards children, that too their own.

— Fatima Aamir Wynn (@fatima_wynn) April 5, 2021

1. Understand rape is act of violence, not lust/desire

2. Ensure more sensitive, effective criminal justice response

3. End rape culture (which includes rape myths, victim-blaming, ideals of masculinity, trivialising consent etc)

4. Challenge patriarchy and gender inequality https://t.co/8GbwTsDWx7

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) April 6, 2021

3. Rape *is not* caused by 'fahashi' if, by your definition, 'fahashi' = women wearing what they want.

Rape *is* caused by 'fahashi' if, by your definition, 'fahashi' = men feeling entitled to women's bodies and not having basic decency.

I think men should stop being fahash.

— Hamna Zubair (@hamnazubair) April 6, 2021

Part 2.

"Is rape consequence of what you wear?" pic.twitter.com/awXKaOgAls

— Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada (@zuhaib_pirzada) April 5, 2021

To anyone channeling Prime Minister Imran Khan and thinking rape is because of 'fahaashi' or lack of 'pardah'. No, rape is: NOT the woman's fault, NOT because she was wearing less clothes and so she 'asked for it',

— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) April 6, 2021

Dear @ImranKhanPTI rape is a result of power imbalance not temptation. Rapists control their urges when they've fear of retribution, accountability & conviction and when they're made free from such fears due to gendered social structures just like ours they'll even rape an infant

— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) April 5, 2021

So easy to blame women and their pardah for fahashi, but don’t actually hold men accountable for being sexual perverts. @ImranKhanPTI – it’s not acceptable to victim blame almost 50% of your nation. Just not acceptable. https://t.co/tDcIOLumNq

— Alia Chughtai (@AliaChughtai) April 6, 2021

Study found that "most convicted rapists could not remember what their victims were wearing."

"In one study, 1 in 3 college men said that they would force someone to have sex if they could get away with it, and that has nothing to do with clothing."https://t.co/EUbmz5nPJX

— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) April 6, 2021

Still pushing the “rape happens because women show skin” discourse is sooooo lazy. Really, dude? After all the work, the research, the campaigns, the flipping logic, this is the conclusion you draw? Exercise some of that brain lard and then maybe we can actually talk solutions.

— Rimmel Mohydin (@Rimmel_Mohydin) April 6, 2021

This is so common! It happens 2 school going girls, women.All of us. Using public transport/walking streets I wear my knapsack upfront.
Its a shame. These streets belong 2 women as well.
It will take persistence /perseverance 2 break this mould of self entitled toxic masculinity https://t.co/tjrSNzRAdP

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) April 6, 2021

A woman's body belongs 2 her. Our bodies are sensitive & often women themselves are not given the mental freedom 2 understand how amazing & intricate our bodies are. No man has the right 2 force himself upon you. If you feel unheard, unseen, trapped & disrespected, find support🙏🏽

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) April 6, 2021