NEW YORK, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that anyone who commits rape is \u201csolely\u201d responsible for the crime, never the victim.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo let\u2019s be clear about that,\u201d he said on Tuesday, when asked by the anchor of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), an American television network, about his recent remarks with regard to rape that drew criticism from some individuals and women groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone who commits rape, solely and solely, that person is responsible,\u201d PM Khan said in the course of his interview with PBS Newshour host, Judy Woodruff.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter whatever \u2014 how much ever a woman is provocative or whatever she wears, the person who commits rape, he is fully responsible. Never is the victim responsible,\u201d he added in response to her question.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy comments were completely taken out of context,\u201d Imran Khan said, adding that he was simply talking about Pakistan society, wherein there has been a sharp rise in sex crimes. \u201cAnd sex crime does not include just women. More than rape are child abuse, which is going through the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n
His comments were in that context, the prime minister said, pointing out that he used the word purdah. \u201cIn Islam,\u201d he added, \u201cpurdah does not mean just clothes. And purdah is not restricted to women only, but that is for men as well \u2014 It means bringing the temptation down in a society.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what I was talking about \u2014 and it was taken out of \u2014 deliberately,\u201d he regretted. \u201cI know all the interviews I have given. Never would I say such a stupid thing where a person who\u2019s raped is responsible somehow \u2014 it\u2019s always the rapist that is responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether Islam complicates Pakistan\u2019s ability to take a stronger stand vis-a-vis violence against women, the Prime minister said, \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Islam, he said, gives dignity, respect to women. Having traveled all over the world, he said in Pakistan and other Muslim countries, women are treated with more respect and dignity.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have odd cases everywhere in the world, but you look at the situation in Pakistan even now, I mean, look at the rape cases here. Compare them to Western countries \u2013they are minuscule compared to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we have our issues. We have some cultural problems. Every nation has that. But that comes with cultural evolution, with education.<\/p>\n
But, as far as a woman\u2019s dignity goes, respect, I can say, after going all over the world, this society gives more respect and dignity to women.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW YORK, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that anyone who commits rape is \u201csolely\u201d responsible for the crime, never the victim. \u201cSo let\u2019s be clear about that,\u201d he said on Tuesday, when asked by the anchor of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), an American television […]<\/p>\n
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