Hafiz Hamdullah: Pakistani Senator Attacks, Threatens Activist With Rape On Live TV [Video]
In Pakistan on Friday, a bizarre incident took place when Pakistani Senator Hafiz Hamdullah reportedly lost control of his temper and verbally attacked activist Marvi Sirmed during a televised debate on “honor killings.” According to a report from Pakistan Today, Sirmed alleges that not only did the senator verbally attack her, he even threatened to rape her. However, Hamdullah denies the journalist’s allegations.
The altercation began after Hamdullah became angry when Barrister Masroor, another guest on the show, made a rude remark that suggested that the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Cleric Maulana Sherani and Senator Hamdullah were “pee k soey hue hain'” (sleeping after becoming intoxicated). The remark sparked a heated argument in which Masroor lashed out at the CII for condoning violence against women.
The anchor asked Sirmed for her opinion about the CII’s position on women’s rights and its failure to condemn honor killings. Sirmed agreed with Masroor, which angered Hamdullah. The two exchanged words, and the senator reportedly began to attack the journalist with sexist insults.
Following the incident, an edited video clip showing the events unfold quickly went viral on social media networks. The video, which can be seen below, cuts off before the rape threat and verbal abuse occurs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JlxnXf9Zew
Reportedly, Sirmed shared details of the attempted physical assault on her Facebook page and on another TV show. She also pressed criminal charges against Hamdullah.
Marvi Sirmed wrote about her experience on Facebook with the below post.
“I’ve just undergone a very traumatic experience at a News One program (Nadia Mirza Show) when Hafiz Hamdullah of JUIF got angry on a comment by Barrister Masroor. When my turn came, I started my comment by saying “I agree with Masroor sahib to the extent that…” and here Hamdullah cut me and went on and on with his arrogance and rudeness. I responded in almost the same coin. And that’s when he started abusing me with worst possible expletives. Called me a whore and said “tumhaari shalwaar utaar dooN ga aur tumhaari maaN ki bhi”. I returned this to his own family women. And then he tried to beat me. All of this recorded in camera. Fayaz ul Hassan Chauhan held him so his punches don’t reach me. He had to be taken away by the News One security.”
“And this religious merchant was fasting while he did all this.”
And this religious merchant Hafiz Hamdullah was fasting while he did all this!
(7/n)— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) June 10, 2016
Once upon a time at an @ISPR_Official coordinated conference in Swat. They actually listened! pic.twitter.com/wSBr9ZmSuO
— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) March 6, 2016
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke out against the senator’s actions, calling it “insulting and immoral behavior of Hafiz Hamdullah towards political commentator and rights activist Marvi Sirmed in a live TV show.” Meanwhile, Zardari praised Marvi Sirmed for what he said was bravely facing the situation and her “defiance against the so-called religious scholars who didn’t learn how to behave and respect mothers and daughters of the nation.”
Hamdullah’s version of what happened is different from that of Sirmed’s, and he told reporters covering the story that during the discussion, Barrister Masroor had said that Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Maulana Sheerani “smoked hashish” as he had not passed any comment over the increasing incidents involving violence against women. He claims this comment sparked his fury of anger.
“Is this the way to speak about an 80-year-old religious scholar? Naturally I lost my temper and a heated exchange took place between me and Marvi Sirmed. I must have said something offensive in anger but Marvi was no less as she had hurled abuses at my deceased mother,” Hamdullah was quoted as saying.
[Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images]
