Pakistan: In The Presence Of PM Imran Khan, Influential Islamic Cleric Blames Scantily-Clad Women For COVID-19 Pandemic

Maulana Tariq Jameel, a highly influentual Islamic cleric in Pakistan and Tablighi Jamaat preacher, has said that COVID-19 pandemic has been unleashed on humanity because of the "wrongdoing of women".

Maulana Tariq Jameel, who holds sway over millions of his followers, made these misogynistic remarks Maulana during the Ehsaas Telethon fundraising event, in the presence of the prime minister Imran Khab and top broadcast journalists.

Maulana Tariq Jameel blamed women who "were often scantily dressed" for the spread of the COVID-19 disease in Pakistan and condemned them for bringing such wrath upon the Islamic nation. The comment was made by him amid a fundraising event on television, while PM Khan looked on.

Maulana Tariq Jameel also condemned women for dancing and for how they dress, saying these “immodest actions” have brought the Almighty Allah ’s wrath upon the country.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP condemned the comments made by the clerics. In a tweet, the commission said: “HRCP is appalled at Maulana Tariq Jameel’s recent statement inexplicably correlating women’s modesty to the coronavirus pandemic.”

HRCP also added that such blatant objectification is unacceptable and that it compounds the misogyny entrenched in the society when aired on public television.

Jameel had also condemned the media for what he said was spreading lies, but apologised for it, later on, calling it a slip of tongue. However, he didn't apologise for his remarks made on the modesty of women.