Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where he said: “not educating girls is part of Afghan culture.” The premier also said that every society’s idea of human rights and women’s rights is different. He is being criticized online for the statements he made during the session.
He said, “We must understand that when we talk about human rights, every society is different, every society’s idea of human rights and normal rights is different.”
He tried to point out that basic human rights can be compromised for cultural sensitivities. He said, “The Pakhtunkhawan province, which borders Afghanistan because the culture is similar because there the Taliban are predominantly the Pashtun movement and there are more Pashtuns on our side of the border.” He further added, “The city culture is completely different from the rural culture.”
“Culture in Kabul was always different to culture in rural areas. Like in Peshawar, it is completely different from the culture of the district adjoining the Afghanistan border,” said the prime minister.
We have to become sensitive towards their Cultural Norms
He then gave an example stating that a girl child’s parents are given a stipend, and they do put their girls in school but only if we are sensitive to the cultural norms of those people, “I will give you an example. We give stipends to the girl’s child’s parents to put the girls in school but in tribal districts or districts adjoining Afghanistan, if we are not sensitive to the cultural norms of those people, even with stipends they will not send the girls to school.”
“But if we are sensitive to their cultural norms, without stipends they are willing to send their girls to school,” said PM Khan adding, “So this sensitivity I am afraid when we are talking about human rights and women’s rights we have to be sensitive about this.”
Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai’s father also commented on PM’s statements. He said he was “extremely disappointed.” “Telling OIC that basic human rights can be compromised for cultural sensitivities. Normalising Taliban’s misogyny + bigotry in the name of culture is shocking”.
IRO @ImranKhanPTI
Extremely disappointing: telling #OIC that basic human rights can be compromised for cultural sensitivities. Normalising Taliban’s misogyny+bigotry in the name of culture is shocking.#LetAfghanGirlsLearn
pic.twitter.com/m1a5elGLru— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) December 19, 2021
“Culture must never be made an excuse to squash fundamental rights of people.”
Culture must never B made an excuse 2 squash fundamentalrights of ppl.Sadly its used by some western & eastern policymakers 2 compromise on women's rights when dealing w/ extremists.A truly sovereign democratic nation can never B realised w/out rights 4 women #LetAfghanGirlsLearn https://t.co/6g9wnmn7Xp
— Munizae Jahangir (@MunizaeJahangir) December 20, 2021
Human rights activist Saleem Javed highlighted PM’s statements for which he received flak online.
PM Imran Khan tells #OICInPakistan that ‘Taliban are predominantly #Pakhtuns’ and therefore not willing to comply with the int’l community’s demands regarding human and women’s rights. ‘They don’t send their girls to school even with stipends’ in tribal areas of 🇵🇰. #OIC4Pak pic.twitter.com/HIVgzNor7y
— Saleem Javed | سلیم جاوید (@mSaleemJaved) December 19, 2021
Utterly disgusting and pathetic statement coming once again from the same dimwit IK. Women’s education is a primitive human right and cannot be compromised over any ‘cultural sensitivity’. Beyond any doubt education should prevail and women should get equal opportunity to it. https://t.co/tlMwULogFn
— 𝓛𝓲𝔃𝔃𝔂 🕊 (@__elizzz__) December 20, 2021
Stop showcasing Taliban ideology as ‘culture’!
One thing I have learnt during 2 decades of my work experience it is the high demand for education (for both girls and boys) by households across Pakistan. What extremists (including the violent ones) demand is NOT what people want. Stop showcasing Taliban ideology as “culture”! https://t.co/HtFAuKEz3q
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) December 20, 2021
Human rights are universal rights. They can't be subjected to "cultural sensitivities". Shocking to hear this from PM Imran Khan. Please do not normalise Taliban's brutality. https://t.co/Vm9juDMPDD
— Prabhash Ranjan (@pranjan12781) December 20, 2021
Truly shocking to hear PM Khan enable and mansplain Taliban brutality in forcing Afghan girls out of school as “tribal culture.”
Truly shocking to hear PM Khan enable and mansplain Taliban brutality in forcing Afghan girls out of school, as "tribal culture". https://t.co/Avl1zQfr5P
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) December 20, 2021
IK is paving the path for the Taliban, however, in this regard, he is shamefully criticizing the Pashtun's identity. Such kinds of policies are not the way forward for 🇵🇰. Taliban can not be legitimized in this pathetic way, as they are and will be terrorists. @Rabnawazwazir3 https://t.co/XLyUIP4AF5
— Sharifullah Wazir 🚩 (@sharifullahwaz4) December 21, 2021
How to tell the world in < 2 mins that you’re a Taliban apologist, do not believe girls’ education is a universal & fundamental right, and think Pashtun==Taliban. Such harmful words by Imran Khan at the OIC. https://t.co/ztCA6gGz1y
— Saba Gul (@sabagl) December 20, 2021
This Documentary Showcases Women from Local Communities of Pakistan Doing Eco-Friendly Jobs Under PM Imran Khan’s 10 Billion Tsunami Project. Read the full story here:
Pakistan has been recognized as a Global Leader for protecting the environment by tackling climate change and is honored to host the World Environment Day by the United Nations for 2021. A documentary has been released on World Environment Day by the Prime Minister’s Office that showcases women from local communities of Pakistan doing eco-friendly jobs under the 10 billion Tsunami Project.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments section below.
For more news and updates, stay tuned to Wow 360
