While the world is fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, many are busy researching the origin and reasons behind the pandemic. Some even believe it is the beginning of the apocalypse. Meanwhile, Maulana Tariq Jameel, a Pakistani cleric believes it’s all because of the wrongdoings of women! Because, why not?
During the Ehsaas Telethon fundraising event in the Pakistani capital recently, the maulana said their country is at the wrath of COVID-19 because of the “scantily dressed women” at “private schools and universities,” reports HT.
He blamed the outbreak not on the virus’s uncertain nature but on women’s ‘behayai’, lack of respect in the society, frauds and media’s alleged lies instead. The Maulana made all these claims in presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, reports Samaa News.
Going by his exact words, Maulana said at the event:
“The prime minister is here, anchors are sitting here… Do we consider how we are going to face the day of judgment due to our deceitfulness?”
Sharing an incident, the Maulana accused media of lying. He said,
“The owner of a very big channel asked me for some advice; I told him to abolish all lies from his channel. The owner replied that the channel would be close, but lies would not end… This is not just here, but media the world over is the same.”
He further added, “Who has torn honour to pieces in my country? Who makes my country’s daughters dance? Who is asking them to wear skimpier clothes? Whom should I hold accountable for this sin?”
“I seek forgiveness from Allah that I could not make my community understand. When a Muslim’s daughter chooses the path of indecency and the youth choose vulgarity… The biggest curse of God was on the people of Lut as they crossed all boundaries of indecency and were cursed five times,” he added.
His demeaning comments on women and media did not go down well with anyone. He faced immense backlash for making insensitive remarks about the media. PM Imran Khan was also slammed for being a mute spectator to Maulana’s unseemly remarks.
The Human Right Commission of Pakistan has also called out the Maulana for his comments on Twitter.
HRCP is appalled at Maulana #TariqJamil's recent statement inexplicably correlating women's 'modesty' to the #Covid19 pandemic. Such blatant objectification is unacceptable and, when aired on public television, only compounds the misogyny entrenched in society.
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) April 24, 2020
میں اپنی غلطی کا پہلے ہی اعتراف کرچکا ہوں، میڈیا کے ساتھ کھڑا ہوں، مولانا طارق جمیل@BPTWithMalick@MalickViews@HamidMirPAK#tariqjamil#javedahmadGhamidi #coronavirus #COVIDー19 #PTIGovernment @humnewspakistan@SajjadBhatti pic.twitter.com/BDSWEC2Zj2
— Ahsan khan (AK) (@ahsankhan568) April 24, 2020
Why has Maulana Tariq Jameel not apologised to women yet? Because he needs to. He’s blaming this pandemic on Pakistani Womens’ alleged immodesty. This is grossly slanderous on many levels;totally unacceptable. Suo moto ka waqt yai hai.He is encroaching on fundamental rights
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) April 25, 2020
وہ کونسا ٹی وی چینل کا مالک ہے جس نے کہا کہ اگر میں نے جھوٹ ختم کردیا تو میرا چینل ختم ہو جائے گا ۔۔حامد میر کا مولانا طارق جمیل سے سوال @BPTWithMalick@MalickViews@HamidMirPAK#tariqjamil#javedahmadGhamidi #coronavirus#PTIGovernment @humnewspakistan@SajjadBhatti pic.twitter.com/igI6lXES1s
— Ahsan khan (AK) (@ahsankhan568) April 24, 2020
Women first need to be considered more than objects. Humans with agency, resepct and présence just like men. Even #ArifAlvi hasn’t apologised for his appalling and unacceptable rape analogy. No Western leader would have dared to say that. Very telling.
— Mehreen Khawaja (@MehreenKhawaja) April 25, 2020
Maulana Tariq Jameel then appeared on a Pakistani news channel as a guest and apologized for his comments. He said he made a mistake and shouldn’t have shared his personal experience on live TV.
He, however, did not apologize to the women separately. So, people are still upset with him and are demanding an apology from him for the same.
It’s time to be sensible and talk productively about the pandemic rather than making baseless blame on anyone. We hope people understand this soon!